Kankan
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| Kankan, Guinea | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Guinea |
| Region | Kankan Region |
| Prefecture | Kankan Prefecture |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 114,009 |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC-5) |
Kankan is the second largest city in Guinea, located on the River Milo in eastern Guinea amd lying about 300 miles east of the nation's captal Conakry. It had an estimated population of 114,009 in 2006 [1]. Kankan serves as the capital and largest city of Kankan Prefecture and Kankan Region. The population of the city is predominated by the Mandinka ethnic group.
[edit] History
Kankan was founded by the Mandinka people in the seventeenth century and became capital of the Baté Empire and an important trading centre, particularly for kola nuts. It was conquered by Samory Touré in 1879 and occupied by the French in 1891. The population of the city is predominantly from the Mandinka ethnic group and their language is widely spoken throughout the city.
[edit] Features
The town is known for its university (Université de Kankan), for its religious scholars and its mango trees. It is home to the Kankan Airport. It is an eleven hour drive from Conakry. It also has one of the oldest mosques in West Africa.
[edit] Transport
Kankan is the terminus of the lightduty narrow gauge railway from Conakry.
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