Gwiriko

The Gwiriko Kingdom (Dyula: Masaya Gwiriko), also spelled Gouiriko, was a kingdom in the 18th and 19th centuries in what is now part of present-day Burkina Faso around the watershed of the River Banifin. It was founded by Famagan Ouattara (Wattara) and lasted until French occupation in 1897. Its chief city was Bobo-Dioulasso.

Gwiriko Kingdom
1714–1897
Capital	Bobo-Dioulasso
Common languages	Dyula
Religion	Islam[1]
Historical era	Postclassical Era
• Established	1714
• Established independence from Kong Empire	1740
• French colonial control	1897
Preceded by Succeeded by Kong Empire French West Africa
Today part of	Burkina Faso

Historiography

The nature of the Gwiriko polity is debated by historians. Juula elders in the region do not retain a historical tradition of any kingdom of that name, yet since its inclusion in Dominique Traore's 1937 paper 'Notes sur le royaume mandingue de Bobo' it has appeared in numerous historians' accounts.^[2] The early history of this kingdom is also recorded in the Ghunja Chronicle (Kitab al-Ghunja).^[3]

The word "Gwiriko" and its variant "Gbirinko" mean "at the end of the long stage",^[3] or alternatively "beyond the forest", in the Dyula language. The term, therefore, may have been a term for the remote lands far from the center of Ouattara power in Kong rather than denoting a specific territory.^[2]

History

In the early 18th century, Sékou Ouattara took control of the city of Kong and expanded his influence, creating the Kong Empire. In about 1714, Seku's brother Famagan Ouattara established the Kingdom of Gwiriko in the bend of the Mouhoun River, acting as a representative of Seku but with a high degree of independence.^[1][4] At Seku's death around 1740, Famagah refused to pay allegiance to Sekou Ouattara's sons and seized the area which included Tiefo, Dafin, and Bwamu. He allied with the Bobo-Juula, and established a state. His successors faced repeated revolts which were put down by violent repression.^[3]

After the succeeding leader, Diori Ouattara, died in 1839, the state collapsed, and the Tiefo, Bobo Joola, Bolon, and other peoples became independent.^[5] Bako Moru stemmed the collapse by allying with the Tiéfo and Bobo Joola. In a battle at Bléni [fr] in the 1860s, the army of faama Daula Traoré of Kenedougou was defeated and his son Tieba was captured and later sold as a slave.^[5][6]

Guimbe Ouattara (c 1836–1919), daughter of Diori Ouattara, was a noted leader in campaigns against the Kénédougou Kingdom and Noumoudara in this era.^[7]

During the reign of Ali Dyan (1854–1878) and his successor Kokoro Dyan, the central state lost control of the state and groups such as the Tyefo took control of the land.^[8] By the late 1800s, Gwiriko was pressed on many sides and in 1897, Pintieba Ouattara was installed to replace Tieba Ouattara by the French when Pintieba made a deal with French commandant Paul Caudrelier. Thereafter, the influence of the state quickly waned and while Pintieba and his successor Karamoko Ouattara held the title of King until 1915, by that time the state no longer existed.^[7]

List of rulers

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
1714	Foundation of Gwiriko state
1714 to 1729	Famaghan Ouattara	Founded Gwiriko as a replica of the Kingdom of Kong. Relative of Sekou Ouattara, ruler of Kong. Seized Tiefo, Dafin, and Bwamu and allied with Bobo-Juula.[3][7]
1729 to 1742	Famagan denn Tieba	[7]
1742 to 1749	Kere Massa Ouattara	[3]
1749 to 1809	Magan Wule Ouattara	[3]
1809 to 1839	Dyori Ouattara	Son of Magan Wule[5]
1839 to 1851	Bako Moru Ouattara	[5]
1851 to 1854	Laganfyela Moru	[9]
1854 to 1878	Ali Dyan	[8]
1878 to 1885	Kokoroko Dyan	[8][9]
1885 to 1892	Sabana	[9]
1892 to 1897	Tyeba Ouattara "Nyandane"	Tyeba was replaced by distant relative Pintyeba by French in exchange for Pintyeba's cooperation in French interests.[7]
1897 to 1909	Pintyeba Ouattara	Relatively powerless[7]
1909 to 1915	Karamoko Ouattara	Held title, but state no longer existed[7]

See also

• Mossi states
• Kong Empire