Nouna

Location of Nouna in Burkina Faso

Nouna is a town of about 20,000 inhabitants located in the province of Kossi in Burkina Faso. It is the capital of the Province. Nouna is a fairly developed town that boasts electricity, running water, land-line telephones, and cellular phones. It also has a high school, bank, post office, mayor's office, and several hotels.

According to the legend, the town of Nouna was founded by an elder of the Dafin tribe, who having spotted a water source in the wilderness, exclaimed "N'nouna diara!" (I am happy!), and that is how the place came to be called "Nouna".

Nouna is located on the line of separation between Samo (or Samogo) territory to the east and Dafin territory to the west. It’s inhabitants are mostly Dafin, with a sizable minority Samo, Bobo, and Fulani (or Peulh). There are also some Mossi (the majority tribe in the country) and a few other minorities. The dominant language is the Dioula language, which belongs to the same family as the Dafin.

Noun'a main street, which runs through the town from southwest to east goes to the second capital, Bobo-Dioulasso in both directions.