Bouaké, the second-largest city in Ivory Coast, with a population of 740,000 (2021 census). Bouaké was established as a French military post in 1899 and has been an administrative centre since 1914. The city is the nation’s second largest community and the commercial and transportation hub of the interior. Bouaké has been the chief trade centre for the rice, yams, and livestock raised by the Baule (Baoule) people since the completion of the railway in 1912.
The Baule belong to the Akan peoples who inhabit Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. In the 1800s a group related to the Akan, the Assabou and Baoulé settled in the vicinity of where Bouaké was. The name Bouaké coming from two Baoulé words: “Boua” which means sheep and “Ké” which means dry. Thus, it is the place where sheep are dried, as they would have seen Jula drying sheep skins when they arrived in Bouaké.
Bouaké is today home to people from many different backgrounds. The city’s distinctiveness comes from it being a platform for the combinations of identities and cultures on which its economic, political, and social dynamism has long been based.
Bouaké is originally named Gbèkèkro—meaning ‘village of Gkèkè’ (after the city’s founder) in Baoulé. It is regarded as the connecting link between the Ivory Coast’s north and south.
Islam was introduced to Ivory Coast in the 10th century by traders from North Africa. However, it was not until the 18th century that Islam began to spread in the region, thanks to the efforts of Muslim scholars and traders. Bouaké became a major center of Islamic learning and practice, and it played a crucial role in the spread of Islam in Ivory Coast and beyond. The architecture of Bouaké reflects the Islamic influence on the city. The most notable example of Islamic architecture in Bouaké is the Grand Mosque, which was built in the 1940s.
Islam has had a significant impact on the culture of Bouaké. Muslims in Bouaké observe religious practices, such as daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and giving alms to the poor. The city also celebrates Islamic holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which are marked by feasting, prayer, and family gatherings.
Islamic culture has also influenced Bouaké’s cuisine. Muslim dishes, such as mafe (peanut stew) and yassa (marinated meat or fish), are popular in the city’s restaurants and homes. These dishes are often made with traditional spices, such as ginger and tamarind, which give them a distinct flavour.
It is worthmentioning that, because it served as the headquarters of the rebel movement Forces Nouvelles (New Forces, FN) during the Ivorian conflict (2002–2011) and as the focal point of violent unrest in the army between 2014 and 2020, Bouaké is also known as the rebel city. This decade of military and political crises left its scar on the city, which is now looking for reassurances about its future.
The trade routes that had shifted during the crisis to the north (Korhogo) and south (Abidjan) have gradually made their way back to Bouaké . Also, in an attempt to reassure visitors and investors from abroad, the government has encouraged football games to be played in the city’s “Stadium of Peace.” By all accounts, Bouaké is headed toward enduring peace and taking part in the nation’s restoration.
