Ouagadougou

Why it's the capital

Ouagadougou was the seat of the Mossi kingdom of Wagadugu, and in the 18th century it became the permanent capital of its ruler, the Moro-Naba. French forces took and burned the city in 1896, and in 1919 they made it the capital of Upper Volta, the colony that is now Burkina Faso.

Fun facts

1. The name comes from Wagadugu, "home of the Wagu", a Soninke group that ruled the old Ghana Empire; Ouagadougou is the French spelling.
2. Every Friday the Moro-Naba, the traditional Mossi king, and his court perform the Moro-Naba Ceremony at his palace in the city.
3. The city hosts FESPACO, the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, and SIAO, an international arts and crafts fair.