Location of Gao in Mali.

Gao, the Tomb of Askia.

Bozo Fisherman on the River Niger at Gao.

La Dune Rose, as seen from the top of the Tomb of Askia.

Gao is a city in Mali and capital of the Gao Region on the River Niger, with a population of 57,978 in 2005.^[1] Gao may mean: Gao, a city in Mali Gao (palm), a type of tropical palm tree Gao may also be: A character in the manga Phoenix An early Chinese emperor A Chinese family name The Japanese onomatopeia for roaring. ... Image File history File links ML-Gao. ... Image File history File links ML-Gao. ... Image File history File links Tomb of the Askias, created by Utilisateur:Taguelmoust on fr. ... Image File history File links Tomb of the Askias, created by Utilisateur:Taguelmoust on fr. ... Tomb of Askia The Tomb of Askia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gao, Mali. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 296 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 296 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Please see the file description page for further information. ... The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2500 miles (about 4000 km). ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 665 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 665 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... La Dune Rose is an attraction in the city of Gao, Mali. ... Tomb of Askia The Tomb of Askia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gao, Mali. ... The Gao Region is located in eastern Mali. ... The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2500 miles (about 4000 km). ...

History

Through much of its history, Gao was a center of trade and learning, and was capital of Songhai Empire. It is similar to, and culturally connected with the great Trans-Saharan trade cities of Timbuktu and Djenne. The Songhai Empire, (ca. ... Timbuktu (Archaic English: Timbuctoo; Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, Mali. ... The location of Djenné within Mali Djenné (also Dienné or Jenne) is a city on the Bani River in southern Mali with a population of about 12,000 (in 1987). ...

The city was founded around the seventh century as Kawkaw, its first recorded monarch being Kanda, who founded the Za dynasty of what became the Songhai Empire. He ensured the city’s growth by allowing trans-Saharan traders to visit and Berbers to settle. Trade increased after Za Kossoi converted to Islam in 1009. ( 6th century - 7th century - 8th century - other centuries) Events Islam starts in Arabia, the Quran is written, and Arabs subjugate Syria, Iraq, Persia, Egypt, North Africa and Central Asia to Islam. ... ZA - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Songhai Empire, (ca. ... The Great Mosque of Djenné, founded in 800, an important trading base, now a World Heritage Site Trans-Saharan trade, refers to trade across the Sahara between Mediterranean countries and West Africa. ... Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Events February 14: First known mention of Lithuania, in the annals of the monastery of Quedlinburg. ...

The Mali Empire conquered Gao in 1325, but Ali Golon re-established Songhai rule. Under Ali the Great in the late fifteenth century the city became centre of an empire, with about 70,000 residents and a 1,000-boat navy, but Gao was largely destroyed by the Moroccan invasion of 1591. The town remained small until French rule was imposed in the early twentieth century, expanding the port and establishing a colonial base. {{Infobox Former // Christine rules Country |native_name = Manden Kurufa |conventional_long_name = Mali Empire |common_name = Mali Empire | |continent = Africa |region = North-West Africa |country = Mali |status = Empire |government_type = Constitutional monarchy | |year_start = 1235 |year_end = 1645 | |event_start = |date_start = |event_end = |date_end = | |event1 = |date_event1 = |event2 = |date_event2 = |event3 = |date_event3 = |event4 = |date_event4 = | |event_pre = |date_pre = |event_post = |date_post = | | |p1 = Ghana Empire... Events January 7:Alfonso IV becomes the King of Portugal. ... Sonni Ali was the first great king (1464-1492) of the Songhai Empire, and the 15th ruler of the Sonni dynasty. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... Year 1591 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s The 20th century lasted from 1901 to 2000 in the Gregorian calendar (often from (1900 to 1999 in common usage). ... For other uses, see Port (disambiguation). ...

Culture

The population of Gao mostly speak Songhay but includes many ethicities, including the Bozo (traditionally nomadic river dwellers), Fulfulde/Fulani cattle hearders, and Tuareg nomads, as well as Bambara peoples from western Mali. The Songhay languages (IPA [soŋay], in the dialects of Gao and Timbuktu [soŋoy]) are a group of closely related languages/dialects centered on the middle stretches of the Niger River in present day Mali and Niger, widely used as a lingua franca there ever since the era of... The Bozo languages (sometimes Boso) are four languages spoken by the Bozo, the principal fishing people of the Niger Inland Delta in Mali. ... The Fula language is a language of West Africa, spoken by the Fula people from Senegal to Cameroon and Sudan. ... For other senses of this name, see Tuareg (disambiguation). ... Bambara Mother figure, 15th-20th century The Bambara (Bamana in their own language, or sometimes Banmana) are a Mande people living in west Africa, primarily in Mali but also in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Senegal. ...

The seventh Festival des arts et cultures songhay was celebrated in February 2007 at Gao, reflecting ithe cities importance as a Songhay cultural capital.^[2]

Sites

Attractions in Gao include the original fourteenth century Gao Mosque, the Askia Tomb (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built in 1495 and incorporating another mosque, a museum devoted to the Sahel, markets including a night market, and La Dune Rose, a sand dune named for its appearance at dawn and nightfall. (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... Tomb of Askia The Tomb of Askia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Gao, Mali. ... UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... 1495 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Look up Market in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... La Dune Rose is an attraction in the city of Gao, Mali. ... This article is about the sand formations, for other meanings see Dune (disambiguation) Mesquite Flat Dunes in Death Valley National Park In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by eolian (wind-related) processes. ... Dawn in Peng Chau, Hong Kong. ... Look up Nightfall in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Economy

Gao has an international airport and is linked to cities along the Niger, including Timbuktu, by a ferry service. While for centuries a transit and trade hub, the tourist industry, especially serving cruises of the Niger River, has also become important to the local economy. Timbuktu (Archaic English: Timbuctoo; Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, Mali. ... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, circa 1945. ...

Area

A number of villages (including Bakal) are along the outskirts of Gao, in the Gao district. Bakal is a Tuareg settlement (formed around a like-named waterhole) in the Gao district of Mali. ...

Sports

The stadium Stade Kassé Keïta is in Gao, and was opened for 2002 African Cup of Nations. The 2002 African Cup of Nations was the 23rd edition of the African Cup of Nations, the soccer championship of Africa (CAF). ...

Twin Cities

Gao is twinned with Thionville, France. Thionville (German: , Luxembourgish: Diedennuewen), is a town and commune in the Moselle département, in the Lorraine région, France. ...

References

Translation of French Wikipedia Aricle.

1. ^ Communiqué du Conseil des ministres du 3 janvier 2007
2. ^ Festival des arts et cultures Songhay: Un facteur d’épanouissement de la région de Gao, Les Echos du 14 février 2007

Coordinates: 16°16′N, 0°03′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...