Kingdom of Gwiriko

Origins

Gwiriko was created around 1714 by Famagan Wattara, a kinsman of Seku Wattara of the Kong Empire, who led Dyula warriors into the region of the upper Black Volta. He established his rule over the Bobo, Bwa and other farming peoples, with Sya, later Bobo-Dioulasso, as the main centre. After Seku's death it became independent of Kong.

Rule and society

The Wattara and their Dyula allies formed a Muslim ruling and trading class over largely non-Muslim farming villages, collecting tribute and controlling trade in kola, salt, gold and slaves. After Famagan's reign the kingdom fragmented into rival branches, and in the 19th century it was weakened by revolts of subject peoples and wars with Kenedougou.

Decline and legacy

By the 1890s Gwiriko was a loose collection of chiefdoms. Samori Toure's armies passed through the region, and in 1897 the French occupied Bobo-Dioulasso. The area became part of French Sudan and later French Upper Volta.

Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.