Yatenga Province

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For the town in India, see Ziro.

Location in Burkina Faso
Location in Burkina Faso
Provincial map of its departments
Provincial map of its departments
Country  Burkina Faso
Region Nord Region
Capital Ouahigouya
 • Total 6,990 km2 (2,700 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 627,193(est.)
Time zone GMT 0 (UTC+0)

Yatenga is a modern province in the Nord Region of Burkina Faso. In modern Yatenga, the most prominent city is Ouahigouya (also known as Waiguya). This city served as the capital of the Mossi Kingdoms,[citation needed] but its influence decreased in the century following French colonization. The city is famed today for being home to the Naba's (traditional king) compound and the tomb of Naba Kango.


Kingdom of Yatenga[edit]

Yatenge was historically a powerful kingdom in the region. It was founded as a Mossi state along with Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Gourma by invaders from neighboring Ghana. Each of the Mossi states (including Yatenga) possessed a strong military that was able to repel attacks from hostile tribes and nations.

When the European powers began their scramble for territory in Africa in the 19th century, France brokered a deal making Yatenga a French protectorate. Following the annexation of the other Mossi states, the area was governed as Upper Volta until the nation's independence on August 5, 1960.


In 2011 the province had 588 primary schools and 57 secondary schools.[1]


In 2011 the province had 60 health and social promotion centers (Centres de santé et de promotion sociale), 20 doctors and 207 nurses.[2]


The Yatenga region is renowned for its unique style of Mossi masks. They are tall, vertically oriented, and concave-faced. They are considered to be some of the best examples of Mossi art available today.


Yatenga is divided into 12 departments:


See also[edit]


  1. ^ "La région du Nord en chiffres". Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie (INSD). 2011. p. 6. 

Coordinates: 13°35′N 2°25′W﻿ / ﻿13.583°N 2.417°W﻿ / 13.583; -2.417