AfricaMaliKoulikoro
Kangaba
Koulikoro, Mali · Africa
About Kangaba
Kangaba sits on the route: 10 minutes from Figuira-Toma.
Kangaba is in Koulikoro, Mali, with about 17,000 people. The nearest town is Figuira-Toma, about 6 km away.
Kangaba is a town, commune, and seat of the Kangaba Cercle in the Koulikoro Region of south-western Mali.
Kangaba is believed to have been founded in 1050 by Mandinka tribesmen and was a vassal state of the Ghana Empire. Once known as Kaba, the area was a core province of the Mali Empire. After winning the Battle ofRead more
Kirina in 1235, Sundiata Keita proclaimed the Manden Charter, also known as the Kouroukan Fouga after the field near Kangaba where it was created, perhaps the oldest constitution in the world. Ceremonies are still held in the town to honor the ancient traditions and promote a message of peace and fraternity.
The Kamablon is a sacred circular mudbrick building with a conical roof in the bara, or large public square, at the center of town, built in 1653. The oldest of its kind in the Manden cultural zone, its septennial re-roofing ceremony brings together the traditional castes, founding dynasties of the Mali Empire, and griots who recite the oral history and tradition of the region. This ceremony was listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
The relationship between Kangaba and the Keita clan is disputed. Some sources claim that the town was the boyhood home of Sundiata Keita and the first capital of the Mali Empire. The Keitas likely, however, only established a base there after the decline of the larger empire, and it thus became associated in popular imagination with the original legend.
Where to Stay in Kangaba
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Kangaba.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kangaba.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kangaba?
Kangaba is in Koulikoro, Mali, about 6 km from Figuira-Toma.
Road trip
Drive to Kangaba
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Kangaba. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 17,232
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Mali
- Region
- Koulikoro
- Timezone
- Africa/Bamako
- Coordinates
- 11.9333, -8.4167
Tags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Kangaba.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Kangaba.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.