City · Burkina Faso
Gaoua

Gaoua is a market town in southern Burkina Faso. The population was 45,284 in a 2019 census. Located in the red earth, green hills, and fast flowing streams of southwestern Burkina Faso, Gaoua is the capital of Poni Province and forms a sort of capital for the sacred rites and bush lore of the Lobi peoples. According to local myth, Gaoua was founded when the Lobi migrated across from northern Ghana where they found the Gan people occupying the territory. As a result, they named the trek across to Gaoua Gan-houo meaning "route of the Gan people".
Good to know
- Population: 45,284.
- Timezone: Africa/Ouagadougou.
