Salvaged archives of the Cercle (administrative district) of Kita, Mali

Archival collection the Cercle (administrative distict) of Kita, Mali, dating back to the very early times of French colonisation in the region (1880s). Documentation on the micro and local Malian history in the twentieth century, and on slavery and post-slavery in Kita. Kita is one of the most ancient colonial districts in Mali (1880) as French penetration started in Western Mali and Kita played a crucial military role in the conquest. It was also one of the very first colonial railroad stations. Thus the Cercle, the main administrative authority since colonisation, collected a tremendous amount of information about the social and economic life of the region over the twentieth century.

Archives du cercle de Kita (Mali) datant du début de la colonisation française dans la région (années 1880). Documentation sur l'histoire malienne (micro et locale) au XXe siècle et sur l'esclavage, et le post-esclavage à Kita. Kita est l'un des plus anciens districts coloniaux du Mali (1880) car la pénétration française a commencé dans l'ouest du Mali et Kita a joué un rôle militaire crucial dans la conquête. C'était aussi l'une des toutes premières gares de chemin de fer sous la colonisation. Ainsi le Cercle, principale autorité administrative depuis la colonisation, a collecté une quantité considérable d'informations sur la vie sociale et économique de la région au cours du XXe siècle.

Extent: 21 folders.

Custodial history: Archives of the cercle (colonial administrative district) of Kita, Mali. Since the independence of Mali in 1960, these documents have been left to themselves and have never been the object of a proper classification.

Arrangement: Archival classification system by Souleymane Koté; Chiaka Doumbia.