Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou (IPA: ) is the capital of Burkina Faso, which was called the Republic of Upper Volta when it gained independence from France in 1960. It is the country's largest city, with a population of 960,116 (as of 2000), and is the administrative, communications, cultural, and economic center of the nation. The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga.

Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles. It is served by an international airport, rail links to Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire and to Kaya in the north of Burkina, and a highway to Niamey, Niger. Being such a focal point, there are many cinemas, nightclubs, and French, American, and Zaka cultural centers. Ouagadougou was the site of Ouagadougou Grand Market, one of the largest markets in West Africa, which burned in 2003 and remains closed. Other attractions include the National Museum of Burkina Faso, the Moro-Naba Palace (site of the Moro-Naba Ceremony), the National Museum of Music, and several craft markets.