Naaba Kango or Naba Kango (died 1787) is known as the greatest of the rulers of Yatenga, an early modern kingdom in present-day Burkina Faso.[1]

In the first half of the 18th century, Yatenga had experienced a rapid succession of about a dozen rules in half a century as a result of weakening of the central authority of the kings (the title naba or naaba means "king") by the regional territorial chiefs (especially the nakomse, descendants of former rulers).[1] After the death of his brother Naaba Piiyo in 1754, Kango became the naaba. This succession was disputed, however, and he was soon forced into exile to Ségou (Segu) by his cousin Naaba Wobgo. In 1757, he returned with Bambana troops wielding flintlocks, the first firearms ever recorded in Yatenga. This technological edge gave Kango the advantage, and he won the war.[1]

He founded the new capital at Ouahigouya (Wahiguya) in 1780,[2][3] and passed reforms to strengthen central royal authority at the expense of the nakomse.[1] The nakomse exploited the series of succession disputes after Kango's death to weaken central authority again.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Fage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa: Volume 4. From c. 1600 to c. 1790. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 185. ISBN 9780521209816. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  2. ^ Ogot, Bethwell A. (1992). General history of Africa (1st ed.). London: Heinemann. pp. 343–44. ISBN 9780435948115.
  3. ^ Diamitani, Lawrence Rupley, Lamissa Bangali, Boureima (2013). Historical dictionary of Burkina Faso (3rd ed.). Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 108. ISBN 9780810867703.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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