NOUNA, Apostolic Vicariate of. - In French West Africa, erected as an apostolic prefecture on 12 June 1947 with territory detached from that of Gao and entrusted to the Society of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). By decree of 18 Oct. 1951, a boundary adjustment was made with the Apostolic Vicariate of Bobo-Dioulasso, and the prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate.
The area exceeds 130,000 sq. km., divided between the territory of Upper Volta and that of French Sudan. In the former is found the subdivision of N. (16,460 sq. km.) with 110,000 inhabitants belonging to the Bobo-Oule, Bobo-Fing, Marka, Mossi, Peulh. There are three mission stations, one of which is at N. with 3,000 inhabitants. Also located here is the Circle of Tougan (17,288 sq. km.) with about 145,000 inhabitants of the Samo, Marka, Mossi, Pana tribes. There are two mission stations. In the territory of French Sudan are found the Circle of San (14,975 sq. km.) with 160,000 inhabitants of the Bobo-Oule, Bambara, Minianka and Marka tribes, one mission station, and the Circles of Mopti and Bandiagara (67,300 sq. km.) with 450,000 inhabitants of the Peulh, Dogon, Bambara, Sonrai tribes; one mission station. To these territories in 1951 were added others with a population of about 126,000 inhabitants, with two mission stations.
The majority of the population is fetishist, and only a few regions are Islamized, especially in the centers and villages of the Marka. There are about 345,723 Muslims, about 2,000 Protestants divided among six or seven stations, 8,364 Catholics and 11,276 catechumens. The pagans number more than 500,371. There are 176 secondary stations, 5 chapels, 3 dispensaries, 4 elementary schools with 539 pupils. The missionaries are all White Fathers, numbering 21, assisted by 5 brothers and 11 sisters. The mission encounters difficulties not only from the action of Muslims, but also from the hostility of the pagans.