Wagadou

• Type: Wizarding School
• Location: Mountains of the Moon, Uganda, Africa
• Owner/Residents: Students and Staff, led by a Headmaster or Headmistress
• Key Features: Largest of the eleven great wizarding schools; architecture carved from a mountainside; proficiency in wandless magic; unique student notification system

Wagadou is the largest and one of the most ancient of the eleven officially recognized wizarding schools in the world, having been in operation for over a thousand years. (Pottermore) The school is located in Uganda at the Mountains of the Moon and is noted for its breathtaking appearance. It is carved out of the mountainside and is often shrouded in mist, giving it the appearance of floating in mid-air. (Pottermore) The school is renowned for its students' advanced skill in Astronomy, Alchemy, and Self-Transfiguration. However, its most famous and distinguishing feature is the mastery of wandless magic. Students learn to cast many spells simply by pointing their fingers or through other hand gestures. This practice sets them apart from students at schools like Hogwarts, where the wand is central to almost all magical education from the first year. Wagadou employs a unique method for accepting new students. Instead of an acceptance letter delivered by owl post, prospective pupils receive a message in their sleep from a Dream Messenger, sent by the reigning Headmaster or Headmistress. The messenger leaves a token, typically an inscribed stone, in the child's hand, which they find upon waking. (Pottermore) A former student of Wagadou, Babajide Akingbade, succeeded Albus Dumbledore as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. (Pottermore)

Wagadou is not mentioned in the original seven Harry Potter novels. Its existence serves to expand the known wizarding world beyond Europe, illustrating the global nature of the magical community and its educational institutions. It provides a significant example of a magical culture that developed with less reliance on European traditions, such as the use of wands. The school is known to have participated in international events, such as the International Symposium of Animagi, where the Wagadou team attracted much press for their synchronized transformations. (Pottermore)

There is currently no official information available regarding the specific rooms, chambers, or common areas within the Wagadou school building.

• The existence and details of Wagadou were first revealed by J.K. Rowling through writings published on the Pottermore website.
• The school features prominently in the backstory of Natsai Onai, a companion character in the video game Hogwarts Legacy. She was a student at Wagadou before transferring to Hogwarts and provides details about its culture, including the practice of wandless magic and the fact that it is the largest wizarding school in the world. (video game)
• Wagadou is one of several non-European wizarding schools created by J.K. Rowling to build upon the lore of the wizarding world, alongside others such as Mahoutokoro in Japan and Castelobruxo in Brazil. (Pottermore)