Kaédi
Encyclopedia
Kaédi is a city
of over 60,000 people and is the largest city and administrative center of the Gorgol
region of Southern Mauritania
. The city is located 16.150 degrees latitude and -13.500 degrees longitude, and is approximately 435 km from Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott
.
" Riverine zone along the north bank of the River Senegal where the river connects with the Gorgol River. This region is one of the few areas of settled agriculture in the country. Culturally, the city is among the most diverse in Mauritania, consisting of ethnic "White Moors
" (Arabic: البيضان) "Black Moors" (Arabic: السودان) as well as Pulaar, and Soninke communities.
It is known as a market town
a medical centre, and a centre for local farmer
s. The market is considered as one of the more interesting in Mauritania, but reflects sub-saharan culture of neighboring Senegal
somewhat more than the Moorish/Arabic culture found further north in the country.
Most of the architecture consists of brown, flat-roofed buildings, undistinguished except for the fact that most are surrounded by "dutch brick
" enclosures. The one exception is the unusual architecture of the Kaédi Regional Hospital
, which was constructed in 1989 and features multiple beehive
-style domes. The award winning architecture was designed by ADAUA, the Association for the Development of Traditional African Urbanism and Architecture, which aims to develop indigenous African urban architectural designs using local materials and technologies.
Kaédi, like many cities along the Senegal River, was deeply affected by ethnic strife in 1989
, and has yet to fully recover economically.
and 250 km to connect at Bala
.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of over 60,000 people and is the largest city and administrative center of the Gorgol
Gorgol
Gorgol is a region in southern Mauritania. Its capital is Kaédi and the Gorgol River forms parts of the landscape. Other major cities/towns include Mbout and Maghama...
region of Southern Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
. The city is located 16.150 degrees latitude and -13.500 degrees longitude, and is approximately 435 km from Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott
Nouakchott
-Government:The town was first divided into districts in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts.* Arafat* Dar Naim* El Mina* Ksar* Riad* Sebkha* Tevragh-Zeina* Teyarett* Toujounine...
.
Overview
The city sits within the "ChemamaChemama
Chemama is the name of the region along Northern bank of the Senegal River, in Mauritania, a fertile band of land extending sixteen to thirty-two kilometers north of the river and containing alluvial soil. It is the only agricultural region in the country....
" Riverine zone along the north bank of the River Senegal where the river connects with the Gorgol River. This region is one of the few areas of settled agriculture in the country. Culturally, the city is among the most diverse in Mauritania, consisting of ethnic "White Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
" (Arabic: البيضان) "Black Moors" (Arabic: السودان) as well as Pulaar, and Soninke communities.
It is known as a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
a medical centre, and a centre for local farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s. The market is considered as one of the more interesting in Mauritania, but reflects sub-saharan culture of neighboring Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
somewhat more than the Moorish/Arabic culture found further north in the country.
Most of the architecture consists of brown, flat-roofed buildings, undistinguished except for the fact that most are surrounded by "dutch brick
Dutch brick
Dutch bricks are building-blocks made, not of brick, but of a mixture of concrete, sand and soil. They are not Dutch; rather, the name results from the use of the word "Dutch" to mean "inferior"...
" enclosures. The one exception is the unusual architecture of the Kaédi Regional Hospital
Kaédi Regional Hospital
The Kaedi Regional Hospital is the largest health facility in Southern Mauritania, and one known for its innovative architecture.The new hospital involves the use of handfired locally made brick and a design based on a sequence of simple and complex dome structures...
, which was constructed in 1989 and features multiple beehive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...
-style domes. The award winning architecture was designed by ADAUA, the Association for the Development of Traditional African Urbanism and Architecture, which aims to develop indigenous African urban architectural designs using local materials and technologies.
Kaédi, like many cities along the Senegal River, was deeply affected by ethnic strife in 1989
Mauritania-Senegal Border War
The Mauritania–Senegal Border War was a conflict fought between the West African countries of Mauritania and Senegal during 1989–1991. The conflict began around the two countries' River Senegal border, over grazing rights.-Background:...
, and has yet to fully recover economically.
Transport
In 2008, a deal was signed with Chinese interests to build a railway line from Kaedi to the capital primarily for phosphate traffic. A further 200 km of line would be needed to connect with the Senegal Railway at LinguereLinguère
- Transport :The town was the terminus of a branch railway. The Train Station is now in ruins and the tracks are non-existent as they have been ripped up and used by locals as part of fences.- Infrastructure :...
and 250 km to connect at Bala
Bala, Senegal
Bala is a town in Tambacounda Region, eastern Senegal. It has a station on the main line of Dakar-Niger Railway.- External links :*...
.