Kaolack is a port and one of the more big cities of the Senegal, located at 189 kilometers in the south-east of Dakar.

Administration

It is the chief town of the Département of Kaolack and the prefecture of the area of Kaolack.

The city is attached to the network of the International association of the French-speaking mayors (MFA).

History

The town of Kaolack is a colonial creation which found the village of Ndagane on the spot today old working of the city. Kaolack was and is still in a great measurement an important center of the transit of the Arachide, culture of revenue of the Senegal. As much to say that the city was during a long time one of most important of Senegal.

Kaolack is also the chief town of the department and the area of Kaolack. Kaolack is located in an old kingdom which was called the Saloum. The city was built in a site characterized by a strong retention of salt. The arm of the sea of the Saloum is the cause of this retention and for a long time a specialized company in the exploitation of salt holds the monopoly in the area. The kingdom of rather refractory Saloum to the European presence however accepted under the fear of a repression the construction of the fort of Kaolack under Pinet-Laprade. The strong frame close to the arm of the sea of Saloum was the heart of a French territory within the kingdom of Saloum. At the time of the wars of resistance of the local sovereigns, Maba Diakhou Bâ, sovereign Moslem of Nioro of the RIP (currently department of the area of Kaolack) and Lat-Dior Diop sovereign of the Cayor in exile, attacked the fort of Kaolack.

Kaolack was thus a center of important transit in the trade of the Arachide and the salt. The construction of the Railroad contributed has to bring this city closer to the basin arachidier.

Religion

The cathedral of Kaolack was called Saint Theophilus Turpin. The current archbishop of Senegal, Monseigneur Theodore Adrien Sarr, officiated there during many years.

The Large Mosque of Kaolack, which was started with the guide of the Confrérie Tidjane of Niassène, Baye Niass, is today the heart of a large district: Médina Baye. This district shelters the family of the marabout tidjane deceased in 1975. Each year at the time of the celebration of the birth of the prophet Mohamed, the town of Kaolack sees a great multitude of faithful in the district maraboutic of Médina Baye. The mosque very frequently knows work.

Current the Khalife of Niassènes de Médina Baye is Sheik Ahmed Ibrahima Niass, wire of Baye Niass. The Imam is the grandson of Baye Niass. It is called Hassan Cissé and is a very active member of the propagation of the lesson of the brotherhood in many countries like the France, the the United States, the Gambia and much of Arab countries. Hassan Cissé being a large intellectual and a Polyglot , it is very regularly out of Senegal. The brotherhood built many infrastructures like a private clinic, school S, a Pharmacie. Mamoune Niass, current leader of RP (Gathering for the People), political party resulting from the left, is a son of Baye Niass.

The district of Médina Baye is one of the rare places in Senegal where gather more than one score of colonies of different nationalities. All the people of West Africa are present there in colonies, more others of the center and Americans who are over there to study the Coran, the Soufisme and Tidjania.

Geography

The closest localities are Sibon Moussa, Touba Mouride, Ngane Alassane, Tiofak, Kahone, Palado and Koutal.

Population

At the time of the censuses of 1988 and 2002, Kaolack respectively counted 150.961 and 172.305 people.

In 2007, according to the official estimates, the population would be of 185.976 inhabitants.

Economy

Kaolack is an important node of communication.

Thanks to its port on the Saloum, the city lived a long time in the middle of the production and the export of the Arachide.

Twinnings

Personalities born in Kaolack

• Papakouli Diop, footballer
• Kéba Mbaye, lawyer and man of letters
• David Amadou Me Bodji, footballer
• Babacar Niang, politician
• Baye Niass, marabout Tidjane
• Amadou Rolls Sall, poet
• Abdou Aziz Sow, politician
• Mouhamadou Diaw, footballer
• Boubacar Kambel Seck, footballer

See too

Related articles

• Aerodrome of Kaolack

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