Diarra is a small town and commune in the Cercle of Nioro du Sahel in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. In 1998, the commune had a population of 6794.[1]
Diarra, Mali | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
 | |
| Country |  Mali |
| Region | Kayes Region |
| Cercle | Nioro du Sahel Cercle |
| Founded | late 11th century |
| Population (1998) | |
• Total | 6,794 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
History
editLocal histories recount that the village was founded by two brothers, Mana Maga and Fata Maga. They were starving, and Mana Maga gave some of his own flesh to his brother to keep him alive. His wound healed, and the place of convalescence was named 'Diara' meaning 'healing' in the Soninke language.[2] It was founded in the aftermath of the 1076 Almoravid attack on the Wagadu Empire.[3]
Diarra was for centuries the center of an eponymous kingdom, sometimes referred to as Kingui, ruled by the Niakhate and later Diawara clans.
References
edit- ^ "Previsions de desserte des communes pour la periode de 2001-2005" (PDF). Mali Reforme Telecom. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2004. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
- ^ Cisse, Fodye (Oct 2007). "Traditions: Le Royaume de Diarra ou Kingui". Soninkara. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Niane, D. T. (1984). "Mali and the second Mandingo expansion". In Niane, D. T. (ed.). Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century. General History of Africa. Paris: UNESCO. p. 124. ISBN 92-3-101-710-1.
15°19′03″N 9°19′17″W / 15.31750°N 9.32139°W
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