Bokin

Bokin is in North Burkina Faso.

Understand

Located at the center of the Mossi Plateau, Bokin is a strictly Moore village, with the occasional Fulfulde intruder. Bokin has lots of millet and people and not much else.

Bokin is the home of former president Thomas Sankara.

Get in

From Ouagadougou take the first transport that leaves the Gare de Tampouy to arrive before nightfall. It leaves Ouaga at about 13:30 and arrives in Bokin by 16:30.

To leave Bokin take the early morning transport, which leaves at about 07:00. The cost is 1500 CFA each way. On marché (market) days you can also take the camion to Yako for 750 CFA.

Do

Video club across from the marché is guaranteed to please, as long as you appreciate Kung Fu movies and Champions’ League Football.

Buy

Marché

Large and in charge and once every three days.

Boutiques

All surrounding the marché, quality and selection changes but you can always buy toilet paper, sardines, pasta, couscous and NIDO.

Tailors

Ali does good work. Normal prices, and he can do anything. Located after the Total station on the left.

Eat

Restaurants

Sometimes, sometimes, you can get an omelette sandwich at the kiosque. They’re kinda oily, but damn cheap.

Street food and snacks

That is the only food to be found. Brochettes, porc au four, samsa, fruit, coconut, salads, rice, dried fish and all other types of normal street food are plentiful.

Drink

Lin Ti’s I & II are the two mainstays of any Bokin-region Volunteer’s life. Lin Ti is a 3-pagne tanti who will treat you right.

Bar Wende Konde (a.k.a. Vulture Bar) was nice for about two months, and sometimes comes through in the clutch, but in general is not as nice as Lin Ti’s.

The Post Bar, according to Raoul, a primary school teacher, is “more romantic”.

Sleep

The (now former) Winans’ house (PCVs house) (owned by Sahel Solidarité, which can provide other lodging as well)

Connect

Post office

Located on the hill by the antenna. Hours: M-F 08:00-12:00, 15:00-17:00; Saturday 8:00-11:00 You can take money out and receive packages but be forewarned that the postal clerk is rather disgruntled.