Sikasso (region) - Definition

Sikasso is the south-most region of Mali. The capital city of the same name is the 3rd-largest city and is growing rapidly due to people fleeing the violence in [[Cote D'Ivoire]] to the south. Major ethnic groups include the Senoufo, known for masks and reverence for animals, the Samago, known for being Mali's best farmers, and the main ethnic group in Mali, the Bambara people. Sikasso is officially the poorest region in Mali since there are few tourist attractions. The local economy is almost entirely based on subsistence farming.

The city of Sikasso is known for a vibrant outdoor market which feautures fabrics, numerous vegetables and fruits (especially mangoes, for which Sikasso is particularly known.) Sikasso is an ethnic and linguistic melting pot featuring people from outlying villages, immigrants from Cote D'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and refugees.

Other major cities in Sikasso region include Bougoni, a junction town en route to the capitol of Mali; Bamako, which has also grown tremendously in recent years; and Koutiala, in the east of Sikasso region, which is the hub of Mali's highly productive cotton industry, which produces one of the country's few exports.