A roundabout in central Ziguinchor bears the name of Aline Sitoe Diatta, the young Diola woman who led resistance against French colonial rule in the 1940s and became one of Senegal's most revered historical figures. She is sometimes called the "Black Joan of Arc" — the comparison captures something of her story, though she deserves to be known on her own terms.
Born in the village of Kabrousse near Oussouye in 1920, Aline Sitoe Diatta had visions that she interpreted as divine instruction to resist French taxation and the forced cultivation of peanuts over traditional food crops. Her authority grew rapidly across the Casamance, alarming the colonial administration. She was arrested at 22, exiled to Timbuktu, and died in captivity in 1944. The stadium, a major roundabout, and countless institutions in the region carry her name. A visit to Ziguinchor is a good occasion to learn her story before travelling to Oussouye and Kabrousse, where her memory is still vivid.