SIKASSO, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — It is situated in French West Africa, specifically in the Sudan. It was erected on 17 Oct. 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 approx. 41,140 sq. km. with a tropical climate. The soil is not very fertile and communications are difficult. The inhabitants number approx. 380,000, of whom approx. 60,000 are Muslims, 249 Protestants, 127 Catholics, and 322,035 mixed groups. The latter belong to the Senoufo, called Minyanka in the region of Koutiala, who speak a dialect somewhat different from that of the Senoufo of S. Many of the latter are Muslims, but of a social rather than religious Islam. In all, there are approx. 260,000. The Bambara, mostly animists, number approx. 60,000. The Samogho are approx. 20,000 inhabitants around S. and are already affected by Islam. The Dioula are found here and there because they are traders.
The first mission station at Karangasso was established in 1936; that of S. was added later. There are 8 missionaries, 5 catechists, 1 elementary school, and 4 normal schools. Local marriage customs and the spread of Islam make missionary work in the area very difficult.