Kolda (;

Wolof Wolof or Wollof may refer to: * Wolof people, an ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania * Wolof language, a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania * The Wolof or Jolof Empire, a medieval West African successor of the Mal ...

: Koldaa) is a city and urban commune located in southern

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

. It is the capital city of Kolda Region and Kolda Department, a region known historically and popularly as Haute

Casamance Casamance is the area of Senegal south of the Gambia, including the Casamance River. It consists of the Lower Casamance (, —i.e. Ziguinchor Region) and the Upper Casamance (, —i.e. Kolda and Sédhiou Regions). The largest city of Casamance ...

History

The name Kolda derives from the name of the city's founder Koly Dado who first established a settlement near the banks of the Casamance River.

Administration

Kolda is the chief city of Kolda Department and of the Kolda Region.

Geography

The city is located on National Road 6, also called the "southern route" due to the fact that it goes from

Dakar Dakar ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The Departments of Senegal, department of Dakar has a population of 1,278,469, and the population of the Dakar metropolitan area was at 4.0 mill ...

Ziguinchor Ziguinchor (; ; ) is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River. It has a population of 214,874 (2023 census). It is the eighth largest city of Senegal ...

through

Tambacounda Tambacounda (; Wolof: Tambaakundaa ) is the largest city in eastern Senegal, southeast of Dakar, and is the regional capital of the province of the same name. Its population in 2023 was 149,071. Geography Tambacounda is situated on the sparsel ...

, Vélingara and Kolda. Dakar, the capital city of Sénégal, is located 670 kilometers from Kolda. Local administrative districts include Bantanguel, Doumassou, Ndiobène, Sarè Moussa, Gadapara, Sarè Kemo, Sinthiang Tountouroung, Sinthiang Idriss, Escale, Sikilo, and Faraba. Kolda is the main capital of the region incorporating the two departments of Velingara and Fafacourou.

Climate

Kolda has a

tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry "winter") and ''As'' (for a dry "summer"). The driest month has less than ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

''Aw'') with two distinct seasons. The wet season lasts for five months, from June through October, while the dry season begins in November and ends in May. Temperatures are hot to sweltering throughout the year. The annual average temperature is , with a maximum of in May and a minimum of in December. Afternoons in the latter half of the dry season are extremely hot, averaging over from March to May. However, in the middle of the dry season mornings are distinctly comfortable at around .

Demographics

As of 2002, Kolda's population was 53,921. In 2007, official estimations, numbered the population at 62,258 inhabitants. The majority population is members of the Fula ethnic group. Mandinke and Jola ethnic groups are also present.

Economy

A Center of Zootechniques Research (CRZ) was established in Kolda in 1972. Major crops include cotton, cereals like miley, fonio, peanut and another vegetables. Kolda also has major sheep, cattle, and dairy production. Kolda is abundant in fruits such as mangoes, oranges, and acajou nuts.

Notables

* Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara - Islamic religious leader and founder of international NGO Mozdahir (born in Darou Hidjiratou)Leichtman, Mara A. 2015. ''Shi'i Cosmopolitanisms in Africa: Lebanese Migration and Religious Conversion in Senegal''. Indiana University Press. *Sidney Toure (poet, actor, activist) *Moriba Pascal Doumbia (educator) *El Hadj Omar Fall (educator) * Mère Henry Ronk (Catholic Mission) - caregiver * Ablaye Diallo (Zal), footballer * Massamba Sambou, football player *, poet * Ablaye Cissoko, Singer, Musician * General * Sada Kane, journalist * Barou Balde, Adjunct Mayor * Bécaye Diop, Minister of State, Minister of the Armed Forces, and Mayor of Kolda

References

{{Coord, 12, 53, N, 14, 57, W, region:SN_type:city, display=title Populated places in Kolda region Regional capitals in Senegal Casamance River Communes of Senegal