Labé

Labé is the main city and administrative capital of the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. It has a population of about 200.000. It's the second largest city in the country after the capital Conakry in terms of economic importance. Labé is situated some 450 km northeast of Conakry close to the geographic centre of Guinea. The city was founded around 1755 by Karamoko Alpha mo Labé, an Islamic religious leader who introduced Islam in the region in the 18th century and who founded a theocratic state in Fouta Djallon.

The city was the capital of the Diwal province prior to French colonisation. It was home to Muslim leaders and scholars who resisted colonisation, such as Alpha Yaya Diallo. Labe is the most important city in the Moyenne (Middle)Guinee region also known as Fouta Djallon. Labe is considered as a major cultural and religious center in West Africa, especially among the Fulani people. Many muslim scholars made Labe a famous learning place in Islamic studies. The most prominent of the erudites being Alfa Oumarou Rafiou (Dara Labe), Thierno Doura Sombili, Thierno Diawo Pellel, Thierno Aliou Bhouba Dian.