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 the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). By decree of 18 Oct. 1951, the boundaries were adjusted 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 lies the subdivision of N. (16,460 sq. km.), with 110,000 inhabitants belonging to the Bobo-Oule, Bobo-Fing, Marka, Mossi, and Peulh peoples. There are three mission stations, one of them at N., with 3,000 inhabitants. The Circle of Tougan (17,288 sq. km.) is also located there, with approximately 145,000 inhabitants of the Samo, Marka, Mossi, and Pana tribes. There are two mission stations. In the territory of French Sudan are the Circle of San (14,975 sq. km.), with 160,000 inhabitants of the Bobo-Oule, Bambara, Minianka, and Marka tribes and one mission station, and the Circles of Mopti and Bandiagara (67,300 sq. km.), with 450,000 inhabitants of the Peulh, Dogon, Bambara, and Sonrai tribes; there is one mission station. In 1951, other territories were added to these, with a population of approximately 126,000, and two mission stations.
The majority of the population is fetishist, and only some regions, especially the Marka centres and villages, have been Islamized. There are approximately 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. Secondary stations 176, chapels 5, dispensaries 3, elementary schools 4 with 539 pupils. The missionaries are all White Fathers, numbering 21, assisted by 5 brothers and 11 sisters. The apostolate encounters difficulties not only because of the activity of the Muslims, but also because of the immorality of the pagans.