Djenné with Kaladian Coulibaly established their nation along the Niger River and founded the town of Ségou-Koro, which would serve as capital of the Bambara Empire. During during the time of the Bambara Empire, distinct urban architecture began to emerge at Ségou Koro, including mosques. One of Koulibaly's descendants, Mamary Coulibaly, also known as Bitòn, became the chief of his tòn, an association of men, sometime after 1700. By 1712, Bitòn had used his military strength to displace local elders and expand the Bambara Empire. In the subsequent decades, he expanded its territory to encompass regional commerce centers such as Macina and Djenné. The city of Timbuktu would become a tributary state to Bitòn's Bambara Empire. After Bitòn's death in 1755, Ngolo Diarra, who was reportedly one of the Coulibaly family slaves, won a brief civil war, and took control the Bambara Empire. Ngolo Diarra established the Diarra dynasty, which ruled Ségou until the mid-19th century. He moved the kingdom's capital from Segou-Koro to Ségou-Sikoro, close to the site of the current city. By around 1800, the Bambara Empire conquered Timbuktu. During the Bambara Empire, many people lived in the town of Ségou, as documented by Mungo Park. Toucouleur Empire On March 10, 1861, the Muslim Toucouleur leader, El Hadj Oumar Tall, conquered the town. On his death in 1864, he was succeeded by his son Ahmadu Tall. Ahmadu had to deal with Bambara rebellions and challenges from his brothers. Ahmadu continued to rule until the town's conquest by the French, when forces led by Colonel Louis Archinard entered the town on April 6, 1890. French colonial rule France attempted indirectly ruling Ségou until March 13, 1893, when they incorporated the town as the capital of a local cercle. Ségou continued to serve as a regional commercial center throughout French rule. Geography Location Ségou is situated from Bamako, on the right bank of the Niger River. The urban commune is bordered to the east by the commune of Pelengana, to the west by the commune of Sébougou and to the south by the commune of Sakoïba. The commune is subdivided into 15 quartiers: Alamissani, Angoulême, Bagadadji, Bougoufié, Comatex, Dar Salam, Hamdallaye, Médine, Mission Catholique, Missira, Ségou Coura, Sido Soninkoura, Somono, Sokalakono, Bananissabakoro. Climate Ségou has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). The city is irrigated by two important waterways: the Niger and the Bani River. Ségou has two seasons: a