SIKASSO, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — It is situated in French West Africa, specifically in the Sudan. It was erected on 27 October 1947 with the two administrative districts of S. and Koutiala, detached from the apostolic vicariate of Bobo Dioulasso. It is entrusted to the White Fathers.
It has an area of approximately 41,140 sq. km., with a tropical climate. The soil is not very fertile, and communications are difficult. The inhabitants number approximately 380,000, of whom approximately 60,000 are Muslims, 249 Protestants, 127 Catholics, and 322,035 animists. The latter belong to the Senoufo, called Minyanka in the Koutiala region, who speak a dialect somewhat different from that of the Senoufo of S. Many of the latter are Muslims, but their Islam is more social than religious. Altogether, they number approximately 260,000. The Bambara, mostly animists, number approximately 60,000. The Samogho, numbering approximately 20,000, live around S. and have already been affected by Islam. The Dioula are found somewhat everywhere because they are traders.
The first mission station at Karangasso was established in 1936; that of S. was later added. There are 8 missionaries, 5 catechists, 1 elementary school, and 4 normal schools. Matrimonial customs and the Muslim encroachment make apostolic work in the area extremely difficult.