Kayes Totally Explained

Everything about Kayes totally explained

Kayes (Bambara Kayi, Soninké Xaayi) is a city in western Mali on the River Senegal, holding roughly 100,000 people. Kayes is the capital of the administrative region of the same name. The name "Kayes" comes from the Soninké word "karré," which describes a low humid place that floods in rainy season. The city is located north-west of the capital Bamako.

Climate

Kayes is nicknamed the "pressure cooker of Africa" due to its extreme heat; the town is surrounded by iron-rich mountains which contribute to the temperature. Kayes is often described as the hottest continuously-inhabitated town in Africa. The average daily high temperature in the city is 35°C (95°F), with temperatures usually peaking in April and May at an average 46°C (115°F).

History

Prior to French colonial expansion, Kayes was a small village. It's location on the path of the future Dakar-Niger Railway, and the French need for trade centers, led to the creation of the Kayes market town in 1881. It remains a transport hub, primarially for Senegalese trade, to this day. In 1892, Kayes became the capital of the French Sudan; Bamako replaced it as the capital first of the state of Haut Sénégal-Niger on October 17, 1899, then as the capital of all of French Sudan in 1908.

Economy and transport

The town has an international airport (Kayes Airport), and lies on the Dakar-Niger Railway, in an area rich in gold and iron.

Area

Different sites found in and around Kayes include:

Fort du Médine
the falls of Félou
the falls of Goulina, to the southeast on the Senegal river
the tata (fortification) of Koniakari, constructed by El Hadj Umar Tall, to the northeast
Lake Magui and Lake Doro
the Manantali Dam

Further Information

Get more info on 'Kayes'.

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