It was renamed Gabú (sometimes spelled Cabu[1]) in honor of the pre-colonial empire after Guinea Bissau's independence.

Mansa Sala Sane established Kansala to replace the old, less centrally located Bainuk capital of Mampatim.

[2] As the Mali empire waned, Sama Koli proclaimed independence in 1537 but maintained many of the trappings of Malian cultural heritage and established trade relations with the Portuguese on the coast.

[4] In the 1860s the Fula of Kaabu and its neighboring states, committed Muslims, launched the Kansala War to end animist Mandé dominance of the region.

Gabú has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), similar to that of the capital Bissau but with – due to its inland location – about a quarter less rainfall and larger diurnal temperature variations.