Ségou
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Ségou or Segu is a city in Mali, lying 235 kilometres northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the region of Ségou. It was founded by the Bozo people in 1620, on a site about 10 kilometers from the present town. With 100,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in Mali. Its geographic coordinates are 13°27'00" North, 6°16'00" West.
The city prospered after Biton Mamary Coulibaly became king in 1712 and founded the Ségou (or Bamana) Empire. The empire gradually declined and was conquered by El Hadj Umar Tall's Toucouleur Empire in 1861 (see battle of Segou), then by the French Army Colonel Louis Archinard in 1892.
Today, Ségou is known for its pottery, its market and its fishing industry. Attractions in the old town of Ségou-Koro included a mosque, Coulibaly's tomb and an ancient tree. In the city center, the main landmark is the water tower.
Notable people from Ségou include Fanta Damba, Garan Fabou Kouyate, and Mountaga Tall.
Maryse Condé's historical novel Segu tells the city's history from 1797 to its 1861 defeat by the Toucouleur.
[edit] Cercle
The Cercle of Ségou includes the urban commune of Ségou and 29 rural communes (Pélengana, Sébougoubou, Konodimini, N'Gara, Massala, Sakoïba, Soignébougou, Cinzana, Samené, Dioro, Farakou-Massa, Kamiandougou, Diédougou, Koumandougou, Bellen, Baguidadougou, Farako, Sama-Foulala, Souba, Digandougou, Katiéna ,Fatiné, Diouna, Markala, Dougabougou, Togou, Boussin, Sansanding et Sibila) totaling 554 villages and neighborhoods.
The cercle's 469,219 residents include Bambaras, Fulas (Fulani), Miniankas, Bozos, Somonos, Dogons and Soninkés.
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