DINGUIRAYE

town, north-central Guinea. It lies at the eastern edge of the Fouta Djallon plateau. The town was once the seat of the imamate (region ruled by a Muslim religious leader) of 'Umar Tal, whose jihad (holy war) led to the creation of the Tukulor empire (185093) in the Niger River valley. Dinguiraye is now connected by road with the towns of Siguiri and Dabola. It is the chief trading centre for rice, millet, peanuts (groundnuts), and cattle produced in the surrounding area by the Tukulor, Fulani, and Dialonke (Djallonke) peoples. Alluvial gold is extracted from the upper reaches of the Tinkisso River (a tributary of the Niger) east of the town. Pop. (1983 prelim.) 32,065.