Ammon Watkins

Canada - 03-May-23 -

Visited April 2023. As part of a 5-day private tour of Burkina Faso I stayed 2 nights in Bobo-Dioulasso and was able to visit this site. The most recognizable part of this site is the Sudano-Sahelian style mosque which sits on a square at the edge of the historical quarter. We were able to visit inside and on top of the mosque with a local guide to escort us. Due to the traditional nature of its construction it is constantly being repaired. Despite being in the center of the second largest city in the country, Sya has managed to maintain a traditional atmosphere and way of life that is centuries old. It somehow still feels like walking around a traditional village, isolated from the rest of the city. The traditional village is still populated and run by a few core families and is divided into 4 small sections, the muslim residences, the animist residences, blacksmith area and musicians section. It is still possible to see some of these activities still taking place, from brewing local to liquor to metalwork crafts. The authenticity factor feels very high.

Unfortunately the whole area is in desperate need of some maintenance and a clean up, there is garbage everywhere and walls are crumbling in many places. With the current state Burkina Faso is in there might not be much left by the time a nomination ever comes around. We spent 1.5 hours or so visiting the area.

Michael Novins

United States - 01-Dec-17 -

In November 2017, I spent a few days in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second largest city, but much more appealing for a tourist than Ouagadougou, the enchantingly named capital. The most vibrant area is around the Grand Marché, the atmospheric market, where all the typical foodstuffs, colorful textiles and household goods are on offer; stranger fare was available on the outskirts in the fetish section. Bobo-Dioulasso’s highlight is the Grand Mosquée, made of mud with timber struts that peek through the plaster. I stayed at Villa Rose, where the Dutch owner was very helpful (in fact, she called me after I made my booking to see if she could answer any questions or provide any information on traveling in Burkina Faso) — plus the room, food, WiFi and outdoor space were great. On the drive from Bobo to Ouagadougou, I stopped at the sacred crocodile lakes at Sabou and Bazoule.

Jarek Pokrzywnicki

Polska - 02-Apr-14 -

Visited March 2014. Sya is in fact the group of mud-brick buildings located in the so called historic centre of Bobo Diulasso town, the oldest of which is considered to be from XI century (as the plate on one building states - but that is probably a local joke).

It is relatively small (around 50 structures, mainly old houses) - the most interesting of them looks to be the building in the center (this is equipped with a plate describing it as the oldest in Sya) and XIX century mosque built of clay. There is an entrance fee to Sya (1000 CFA) but they will try to force you to take a guide (unnecessary as the whole stroll will not take long). The mosque itself is regarded to be the bigest example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture in the whole coutry.