Ivory Coast - Burnet Middle School

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CultureGrams
Kids Edition
Republic of
2014
Ivory Coast
Côte d’Ivoire
Ivory Coast is one of the top cocoa producers in the world.
Ivory Coast was the first non-English-speaking country to win an Academy Award. It won the award for Best
Foreign-Language Film in 1977.
Tai National Park, located on the border with Liberia, is one of the last remaining rain forests in West Africa. It is
home to several endangered species, including the pygmy hippopotamus, the chimpanzee, and a small type of
antelope known as a gidi-gidi.
Ivory Coast’s Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is one of the largest Christian churches in the world and is modeled
after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
The national anthem of Ivory Coast is “Song of Abidjan.” In 1983, the capital city was moved from Abidjan to
Yamoussoukro, but the national anthem kept the name of the first capital.
The average life expectancy for Ivoirians is 56 for men and 58 for women.
The capital city of Yamoussoukro is also known as the Radiant City, while the former capital city of Abidjan is
known as the Paris of West Africa.
Flag
Based on the flag of France, the flag of Ivory Coast was adopted in 1959. The orange
symbolizes the land of the north. The white stands for peace and unity. The green
represents the forests of the south and the hope of a bright future.
National Image
The elephant is Ivory Coast’s largest native animal and is a national symbol because it
produces the ivory for which the country was named. Today, it is illegal in Ivory Coast to
hunt elephants for ivory.
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 124,504
Area (sq. km.): 322,463
Located in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea between Ghana and Liberia, Ivory Coast
covers an area of 124,504 square miles (322,463 sq km). About the same size as
Norway and slightly larger than the state of New Mexico, the country is also known as
Côte d’Ivoire. The majority of the southern coast is made up of scattered lagoons
(shallow bodies of water separated from a larger body of water by barrier islands or
reefs). The sandy beaches are beautiful, and the surf is known for being wild and
strong. Rain forests once covered the entire southern portion of Ivory Coast, but today
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most of the rain forests have been cut down for timber and to make room for modern
development. The west is marked by rolling hills and a few mountains, including Mt.
Nimba, the tallest mountain in Ivory Coast. A large plateau (high, flat area) covers the
middle of the country. This is where almost all of the nation’s crops are grown, including
its world famous cocoa and coffee. The north is mostly savanna (flat plains with tall
grass). Few trees grow there. The longest rivers in Ivory Coast are the Sassandra, the
Bandama, and the Komoé, which each run from north to south into the Gulf of Guinea.
Ivory Coast experiences three different seasons. The warm, dry season lasts from
November to March. The hot, dry season extends from March to May, and the hot, wet
season runs from June to October. The climate is tropical and humid along the coasts.
It gets drier the farther north and inland you go. Rainfall is heavier on the coast, where
around 75 inches (191 cm) of rain fall every year. July is the wettest month of the year.
In the winter, harmattan winds blow sand in off the Sahara Desert. Some years these
winds are so strong that the dust clouds they create make it difficult to see and breathe.
Population
Population: 22,400,835
More than 22 million people make their homes in Ivory Coast. They belong to more
than 60 different ethnic groups, each with its own language, traditions, beliefs, and
culture. The largest of these are the Akan, the Mandé, the Voltaic, and the Kru. Ivory
Coast’s borders were drawn up by outside European powers in the late 19th century.
Some of these ethnic peoples were divided from others within their clans. As a result,
most Ivoirians today have family members living in neighboring countries, like Ghana
and Mali. About half the population lives in cities, while the other half lives in the
countryside. In the countryside, the people live in villages run by tribal chiefs. Many
farm, and the different ethnic groups are known for their craftsmanship and artwork,
including dance masks, clay pottery, and leatherwork. Folk stories and tribal myths are
passed down from generation to generation. A few immigrants from other countries,
such as Lebanon and France, also live in Ivory Coast.
Language
Because each ethnic group in Ivory Coast has its own language, the country is home to a wide variety of dialects (ways
of speaking and pronouncing). French is the official language and is taught in schools, so most Ivoirians are bilingual
(speak two languages). Many speak Dyula, an Arabic dialect. Today, more and more young people speak Nouchi, a
mixture of French and several different African languages.
Can You Say It in French?
Hello
Bonjour
(BONE-zhure)
Good-bye
Au revoir
(OH re-VWAHR)
Please
S'il vous plait
(SEEL voo-play)
Thank you
Merci
(mare-SEE)
Yes
Oui
(wee)
No
Non
(noh)
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Religion
There are three main religions in Ivory Coast: Islam, Christianity, and native traditional beliefs. Close to 40 percent of
the population is Muslim, while around a third is Christian. About 12 percent practice some sort of native religion, and
the rest do not claim any religion. Muslims tend to live in the north and Christians in the south. Native practices include
worshiping ancestors and believing that all objects have a spirit or soul. Followers ask their ancestors for their blessing
and their protection. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Most Ivoirians are welcoming of others’ beliefs,
and some mix different religious traditions together. Mosques, cathedrals, and churches of many kinds can be found all
across the country.
Time Line
AD 1000
AD 1000s
Muslim traders make contact with native peoples living in what is now
Ivory Coast
c. 1450
Portuguese explorers land in the area but do not make permanent
settlements
1800
c. 1840
The French build forts and settlements along the coast
1885
European powers decide how to divide up Africa; France gains control
over Ivory Coast
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1893
Ivory Coast officially becomes a French colony
1898
France solidifies its hold over the area by defeating Malinke forces
under Samory Touré in western Ivory Coast
1900
1944
Félix Houphouet-Boigny is elected to the French parliament and
speaks out against colonialism
1958
Ivory Coast becomes an autonomous (self-governing) republic within
the French Community
1960
Ivory Coast declares its independence; Houphouet-Boigny becomes
the nation’s first president
1979
Ivory Coast becomes the world’s leading producer of cocoa
1983
The capital city is moved to Yamoussoukro
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1990
Ivory Coast holds its first multiparty elections; Houphouet-Boigny is
reelected
1993
President Houphouet-Boigny dies; Henri Konan Bédié becomes
president
1999
General Robert Gueï leads a military coup (government takeover)
2000
2000
Laurent Gbagbo is elected president
2002
Widespread violence erupts between the various ethnic and religious
groups in Ivory Coast
2003
Government and rebel leaders agree to a truce, but rebels pull out later
in the year
2004
The United Nations sends peacekeeping forces to Ivory Coast to help
maintain the truce
2005
Pro-government soldiers and rebel groups clash, sparking more
violence
2011
Alassane Ouattara is elected president
PRESENT
Muslim Traders
Very little is known about the earliest peoples who lived in what is now Ivory Coast.
These early inhabitants were the ancestors of today’s native Ivoirians. They lived as
members of different tribes, including the Dyula, the Yacouba, and the Guéré. These
tribes were organized into kingdoms. They hunted, farmed, and traded with Muslim
merchants and traders from North Africa who made their way to the region. Trade
routes ran across the Sahara Desert, and everything from gold and salt to slaves and
nuts changed hands from as early as the 8th century on. Today, what remains from
these early inhabitants includes fragments of tools and cooking utensils. The land now
known as Ivory Coast was covered in thick rain forests, which kept many outsiders from
reaching the area. As a result, it took many years before groups from neighboring
regions began moving to the land.
Portuguese Explorers
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In the late 1400s, the prince of Portugal sent explorers and missionaries to the coast of
West Africa in search of trade routes, slaves, and people they could convert to
Christianity. The Portuguese mapped the coastline and established settlements and
trading posts. As these posts spread, local peoples began to fight over who would
control access to popular European goods such as firearms. Because of its lack of safe
harbors, the area that is now Ivory Coast did not suffer as much from the slave trade as
its West African neighbors. However, the European visitors were also eager to trade for
ivory from the abundant elephants in the region. In fact, that is where the country got its
name. The ivory trade became so large that it all but wiped out the entire elephant
population of Ivory Coast by the early 1700s.
The French Take Over
Soon, other European powers arrived in West Africa. In the mid-1800s, the French
began to establish themselves by building a series of forts along the coast. They spread
inland over time as more and more French settlers moved to what is now Ivory Coast to
grow cocoa, coffee, and bananas to send back to France. The French government
presented local leaders with gifts and money in exchange for the right to run the trade
along the coast. At the same time, Germany, Great Britain, and Belgium were also
trying to establish colonies all over Africa. In 1884, the representatives from the various
European countries met at the Berlin Conference to divide up control of Africa. France
was given most of western and central Africa, including what is now Ivory Coast. New
boundaries were drawn that did not take into account the traditional territories of the
many ethnic groups who lived there. In 1893, Ivory Coast became an official French
colony, with Grand Bassam as its capital city.
Independence
Many native tribes were unhappy with French rule. Bands of guerillas (rebels) fought French troops continually until
around 1918. When World War I broke out, Africans were enlisted to fight alongside French soldiers. When they at last
returned home, they were still expected to work for the French for very little pay. After France surrendered to Germany
in World War II, many Ivoirians saw the opportunity they had been looking for. A union leader by the name of Félix
Houphouet-Boigny was elected to the French parliament in 1945. He fought against French colonial policies until
France agreed to do away with forced labor and allow all Ivoirians to be French citizens. Along with other French
colonies, Ivory Coast declared its independence in 1960, and Houphouet-Boigny became the nation’s first president.
The new country’s economy grew over the next several years until Ivory Coast was one of the top coffee and cocoa
producers in the world. However, Houphouet-Boigny’s leadership developed into a dictatorship. He did not allow any
political parties but his own. He made it so that he was the only one people could vote for in presidential elections.
Newspapers were not allowed to print anything that disagreed with his policies, and those who did were sent to jail or
forced to leave the country. During this time, the capital city was moved to Yamoussoukro.
Ivory Coast Today
Houphouet-Boigny died in 1993. The next president was one of his friends, Henri
Konan Bédié, who tried to keep the same kind of strict control over the government.
The military led a coup (takeover) of the government in 1999, and new elections were
held a year later. Many people thought the elections were rigged, and violence broke
out. Hundreds of Ivoirians died, and the conflict led to an all-out civil war. Government
forces and rebels fought across the country, and France sent troops to try and help
keep the peace. Both sides agreed to a truce in 2003, but they were unable to come to
an agreement on how to form a new government. The United Nations sent
peacekeeping troops shortly after in an effort to keep the civil war from continuing. But
the 2011 presidential election led to a second civil war as supporters of both candidates
warred with each other as well as rebel groups over who won. Alassane Ouattara was
eventually elected president, but Ivoirians are still struggling to find common ground
and mend their country.
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Games and Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport in Ivory Coast. Children play it anywhere they can,
from the beach to the street to a stadium. Rugby, basketball, swimming, and surfing are
other favorites. Ivoirians also enjoy board games such as awale. In awale, two players
or teams try to move playing pieces from cup to cup on a long wooden playing board.
The player or team who captures the most playing pieces wins. Kids enjoy playing a
board game called ludo that is similar to Sorry! or Parcheesi. The goal is to race four
tokens around the board from start to finish. The tokens are always brightly colored
green, red, blue, and yellow. Each player rolls the dice to determine how far he or she
can travel in a single turn. When a player wins, it is called a “homer.”
Holidays
Because there are so many different peoples and religions in Ivory Coast, there are
festivals and celebrations almost every week. All Ivoirians celebrate New Year’s Day
with family parties and special meals. Some Christians spend all night at church, while
many Muslims actually celebrate New Year’s at a different time of year because Muslim
holidays are based on the lunar calendar, meaning each year they are held 11 days
earlier than they were the year before. Christian holidays include Easter and Christmas.
Ramadan (the holy month of fasting) and the feast that follows it, Eid al-Fitr, are two of
the most important Muslim holidays.
During the month of November in the area surrounding the town of Man, Ivoirians
celebrate the Fête des Masques (Festival of Masks). The people of this region are
known for the elaborate and beautiful masks they carve out of wood. Traditional mask
makers from all around travel to Man for the occasion, and the town is filled with
masked dancers, musicians, and competitions. The masks are believed to embody the
spirits of the forest. Tradition states that when a person’s face comes into contact with a
mask, that person transforms into the being the mask symbolizes.
Food
In the countryside, families often eat around one large bowl placed on a mat on the
floor. Each person scoops up a handful of rice and forms it into a ball along with the
meat and sauce from the bowl. Everyone washes their hands before and after each
meal. Children eat dinner earlier than the adults. In the city, people usually eat at a
table with their own plates and utensils. Main meals are usually based on rice, cassava
(tapioca), or yams served in a sauce made of palm oil, peppers, tomatoes, or nuts. Tô
is a kind of porridge made from sorghum, millet, and corn flour boiled together with milk.
Spicy, thick stews are also common. Cooked in a sealed pot over a fire all day long, the
stews include chicken or fish and vegetables and are spiced with habanero peppers.
Ivoirians buy snacks such as yogurt, fried plantains (similar to bananas), or peanuts
from street vendors. Mangoes, passion fruit, and coconuts are favorite fresh fruits and
are usually eaten for dessert. Ginger beer is a popular soda. Many Ivoirians suffer from
malnutrition because they do not have access to protein-rich foods.
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Schools
Adult Literacy: 56.2%
School is free in Ivory Coast all the way through elementary school. Classes are taught
in French and include everything from math and writing to history and music. Kids start
school at age five and are required to go for the next six years. At that point, they can
choose to go on to seven years of secondary (high) school, if they want to, but they
have to pay tuition and buy their own supplies. They also usually have to travel to a city
center in order to attend secondary school. Education is important to Ivoirians, but there
is often not enough money or teachers to support all of the schools. If parents cannot
afford to send all of their children to school, they sometimes send just their sons and
keep their daughters at home to help with the family.
Life as a Kid
In Ivory Coast, children’s daily lives differ depending on whether they live in a village or
in a town. In villages, they get up every morning and walk or ride their bikes along the
road to school, which is often a few miles from the village. The subjects they study are
the same in the countryside and in the city. Classes are held Monday through Friday
from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays, the youngest
boys stay at home while the older boys go hunt, fish, or play soccer. Girls help their
parents with housework. On Sunday, Christian children go to church with their parents.
Once they return from church, they do their homework for the coming week. In the
countryside, there are not very many forms of entertainment for children. They spend
their weekends playing soccer or games of marbles.
In the city, things are different. Children go to school Monday through Friday. At the end
of the week, most of them go to the beach with their parents or visit shopping malls.
Other children play soccer, watch cartoons on TV, and do their homework. Most
children love weekends because they are more relaxed and less stressful. Life in big
cities such as Abidjan or Yamoussoukro is similar to life in the United States and major
European cities.
Government
Capital: Yamoussoukro
Head of State: Pres. Alassane Ouattara
Head of Government: PM Daniel Kablan Duncan
After achieving independence, Ivory Coast set up a government based on the French
constitution. They have a president, who is elected by the people to a five-year term.
There are no limits on how many terms a president may serve. The president then
appoints a prime minister, who leads the government on a day-to-day basis. The prime
minister works with the Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) to create laws. There
are 225 députés (members) of the Assemblee Nationale, and they are each elected to
serve five-year terms. All Ivoirians are allowed to vote at the age of 18.
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Money and Economy
Currency: CFA franc
For many years, farming has supported Ivory Coast’s economy. Cocoa and coffee are
the main crops the nation exports (sells to other countries), along with timber, rubber,
palm oil, and pineapples. Because demand for these items around the globe changes,
Ivory Coast’s economy goes up and down according to that demand. The majority of
the population works in agriculture. Most of them work on cocoa and coffee plantations,
but a few raise goats and sheep. The nation’s sawmills and wood-processing plants
produce boxes, cabinets, and furniture. Ivory Coast is also home to some gold and
diamond mines. The currency is the CFA franc (CFA).
Getting Around
Most main roads leading in and out of cities such as Abidjan and Yamoussoukro are
paved, but many of them are in bad shape. Other roads running between rural
(countryside) towns are dirt. Ivoirians travel these on bicycles, oxcarts, mopeds, or on
foot. Only a few own their own cars. In the cities, people take taxis or motorcycles.
Buses run between some of these cities, but trips can be rough going and take a long
time. Trains connect Ivory Coast and its neighboring countries such as Mali and
Burkina Faso.
Land of Festivals
In every region of Ivory Coast, there is a unique festival or celebration that distinguishes
the people of that region. The Fête du Dipri (Feast of Dipri) is held each April in the
village of Gomon, several miles north of Abidjan. During the days leading up to the
feast, villagers strictly observe taboos (forbidden behaviors) such as not eating certain
foods. People must also resolve any arguments or differences they have with any other
villagers. Around midnight, the villagers wake up. The women and children sneak out of
their homes to conduct a series of ceremonial acts meant to rid the village of evil spirits,
including taking a bath in the local river. People also sacrifice dogs, sheep, and
chickens as offerings to the river and the ancestors. Just before sunrise, the village
chief calls the rest of the people to come out of their homes. Drums beat as many
people hit the ground with sticks and dance about wildly to chase out evil. Outsiders are
not allowed inside the village on this festival day.
The Festival of Generation among the Ebriés people is an initiation ceremony that
marks the transition from one stage to another in the lives of girls and boys of each
generation. During this festival, the past generation passes a torch to the next
generation who will manage the affairs of the village. This passage of the torch officially
represents the new generation moving from adolescence to adulthood and reaching the
age of maturity. From that point on, the new adults have the right to speak at meetings
and take part in the decisions of the village.
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Ivory Coast
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of Ivory Coast, 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202)
797-0300.
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law to
copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by any
means without strict written permission from ProQuest.
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