Timeline of Bamako

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Bamako, Mali.

Prior to 20th century

 * 16th century - Bambara in power.
 * 1880 - Mandinka Samory Touré in power (approximate date).
 * 1883
 * 1 February: Town occupied by French forces under command of Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes.
 * Fort built by French.

20th century



 * 1903 - Fort demolished.
 * 1904 - Koulikoro-Bamako railway built.
 * 1906 - Chamber of commerce established.
 * 1907 - (presidential residence) built.
 * 1908 - 23 May: Capital of French colonial Upper Senegal and Niger relocated to Bamako from Kayes.
 * 1919 - Bamako becomes a "commune-mixte" (form of administration).(fr)
 * 1920
 * Bamako becomes capital of colonial French Sudan.
 * Population: 16,000 (estimate).
 * 1921 - Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Bamako active.
 * 1923 - Dakar-Bamako railroad begins operating.
 * 1924 - dedicated.
 * 1927 - Sacred Heart Cathedral built.
 * 1929 - "Submersible causeway to Sotuba" built across the Niger River.
 * 1933 - Ecole Artisanale du Soudan (art school) established (later Institut National des Arts de Bamako).
 * 1934 - Institut de la Lèpre (medical entity) begins operating.
 * 1936 - Population: 21,000 (estimate).
 * 1945 - Population: 36,000 (estimate).
 * 1946 - Rassemblement Démocratique Africain political party headquartered in city.
 * 1947 - Dakar–Niger Railway labor strike.
 * 1948 - Photographer Seydou Keïta in business.
 * 1949 - L'Essor newspaper begins publication.
 * 1953 - Sudanese Museum opens.
 * 1956 - Modibo Keïta elected mayor.
 * 1958
 * Vincent Auriol Bridge built.
 * Photographer Malick Sidibé in business.
 * Population: 76,000.
 * 1960
 * City becomes capital of the Republic of Mali.
 * Djoliba AC (football club) formed.
 * Stade Modibo Kéïta (stadium) opens.
 * Population: 130,00 urban agglomeration.
 * 1963 - École Normale Supérieure of Bamako opens.
 * 1965
 * founded.
 * Population: 168,000.
 * 1970s - Grand Mosque of Bamako built.
 * 1972 - Population: 225,000 (estimate).
 * 1974 - Twin city relationship established with Angers, France.
 * 1975 - Sister city relationship established with Rochester, New York, United States.
 * 1976 -
 * Population 419,239
 * 1977 - 18 May: Funeral of Modibo Keita.
 * 1978
 * District of Bamako created, consisting of six communes: Commune I, II, III,, V, and , each with its own mayor.(fr)
 * Groupe Bogolan Kasobané (artisan group) formed.
 * 1980 - March: Saharan states summit held in city.
 * 1982 - National Museum of Mali active.
 * 1983 - Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Mali headquartered in city.
 * 1984 - October: Meeting of Economic Community of West African States held in city.
 * 1987
 * "Islamic centre" built.
 * African health ministers meet in city, adopt "Bamako Initiative" for healthcare.
 * Population: 658,275 in city.
 * 1989 - Les Échos newspaper begins publication.
 * 1990s - Hippopotamus erected.
 * 1991
 * 22 March: Anti-government protest; crackdown.
 * 26 March: 1991 Malian coup d'état occurs.
 * 1992
 * 19 January: held.
 * King Fahd Bridge opens.
 * 1994
 * Rencontres africaines de la photographie biennial exhibit begins.
 * BCEAO Tower built.
 * 1995 - Monument de l'Indépendance and Monument to the Martyrs dedicated.(fr)
 * 1996
 * University of Bamako opens.
 * Monument to Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly dedicated. (fr)
 * 1998
 * established.
 * Ibrahima N'Diaye becomes district mayor.
 * Population: 1,016,167 in city.
 * 2000
 * Fresques murales de Koulouba (monument) built.(fr)
 * Monument to Kwame Nkrumah dedicated.(fr)
 * Sister city relationship established with São Paulo, Brazil.

21st century

 * 2001
 * Kita-Bamako road constructed.
 * Stade du 26 Mars (stadium) opens.
 * 2002
 * 2002 African Cup of Nations football contest held in Bamako.
 * Monument to Patrice Lumumba dedicated.(fr)
 * 2003 - becomes district mayor.
 * 2005
 * Budapest-Bamako car race begins.
 * Geekcorps office established.
 * 2007 - becomes district mayor.
 * 2009
 * headquartered in city.
 * Population: 1,810,366 urban agglomeration.
 * 2011
 * ,, , established.
 * active.
 * 2015 - 20 November: 2015 Bamako hotel attack occurs in Hippodrome.
 * 2016 - 21 March: Attack on headquarters of the European Union military training mission in Bamako.
 * 2022 -
 * Population 4,227,569 in capital district

in English

 * "Bamako," New Encyclopedia of Africa 2nd Edition, editors John Middleton and Joseph Miller (Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008)
 * "Bamako," New Encyclopedia of Africa 2nd Edition, editors John Middleton and Joseph Miller (Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008)
 * "Bamako," New Encyclopedia of Africa 2nd Edition, editors John Middleton and Joseph Miller (Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008)
 * "Bamako," New Encyclopedia of Africa 2nd Edition, editors John Middleton and Joseph Miller (Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008)