Sikasso tata, Military fortress in Sikasso, Mali
The Sikasso tata is a military fortress in Mali made of three concentric walls that reach heights of 4 to 6 meters with bases about 6 meters wide. The remains extend across several neighborhoods including Mancourani, Medina, Wayerma, Bougoula, and Fulasso.
Built between 1877 and 1897 under King Tieba Traoré, the fortress endured a prolonged siege from 1887 to 1888. It eventually fell to French forces, marking the end of regional independence and the beginning of colonial control.
Seven modern gates mark historical passages through the walls, showing how residents connect these spaces to their daily routes through town. They serve as landmarks that reflect the community's relationship with this defensive structure.
The ruins are scattered across the city, so exploring them requires walking through multiple neighborhoods to see different sections. Plan to move through various parts of town to experience how the fortress integrates with the modern urban layout.
The walls were built using a distinctive construction method combining dry stone, gravel, and mud with reinforced earthen structures and alternating stone beds. This technique reveals how local materials were skillfully combined to create durable defensive structures.
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