Labé, Guinea

Labé (Pular 𞤆𞤵𞤤𞤢𞤪:𞤂𞤢𞤦𞤫) is a vibrant city located in the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. With a population of approximately 200,000, it is the second largest city in the country and is considered a major cultural and religious center in West Africa. Founded in 1755 by Karamoko Alpha mo Labé, a Muslim religious leader who introduced Islam to the region, Labé was the capital of the Diwal/province of Labe prior to French colonization. Today, it is an important commercial center, known for its central market, which is the second largest in the country after the Madina market in Conakry. Labé is also home to a small manufacturing industry, consisting mainly of shoe making, textile, carpentry, blacksmithing, weaving, and honey production. The city benefits from a considerable diaspora whose repatriated income contributes significantly to infrastructural development in Labé and helps to overcome the region’s relatively poorer revenue stream. Labé is also a popular destination for tourists, who come to explore its rich history and breathtaking landscapes. The Saala Falls and Mount Kolima are popular attractions, as is the city’s museum. Labé has a tropical savanna climate, with extreme temperature differences between day and night due to the city’s altitude of over 1,000 meters or 3,280 feet. It is as hot by day as the coast of Guinea all year round, but cold to comfortable at night due to lower heat storage in thinner air. About 1,550 millimeters or 61 inches of rain fall annually, almost all between late April and early November. Notable people from Labé include Siradiou Diallo, Alpha Oumar Barou Diallo, Cellou Dalein Diallo, Koumanthio Zeinab Diallo, Elhadj Thierno Abdourahmane Bah, Saidou Malea Diallo, Ibrahima Caba Bah, Karamoko Alfa Mo Labe, and Elhadj Thierno Badrou Bah. Come and experience the vibrant culture and rich history of Labé, Guinea!