With close ties to France since their gained independence in 1960, the large profusion of natural resources found here is what made the French and Portuguese merchants name this region Ivory Coast; but not too long after that the name was changed to Côte d’Ivoire.

The development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the West African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil.  With almost over sixty ethnic groups, the men in this culture are portrayed as the power head of any household, while the women took care of all sort of domestic needs.

National Identity

Ever since the people of  gained independence, a sense of national consciousness developed.  Most individuals consider themselves Ivorians but the concept of their national identity is complex.

Food in the Daily Life

In Côte d'Ivoire, grains such as millet, maize, rice and tubers such as yams and cassava make up most of their meals.  The food here is known to be very spicy and eaten with the hands.  Well-known dishes consist of rice with a pepper-flavored peanut sauce, which can be found in the northern savannah; and fish with fried plantains are mostly served in the coastal regions.  The national dis is foutou, a thick, heavy paste made of mashed plantains or yams eaten with a spicy sauce or stew made of fish or meat.

Support for the Arts

Known as the "Jewel of West Africa", the arts have been supported by the government which provides support to dance troupes, artists, writers and the museums; almost anything in related to the arts and humanities.

Literature: Throughout the years, Côte d'Ivoire has been passing on traditional poetry, folktales and myths the storytellers called "griots" about their societal values, history and religion.  In written literature, French is the dominant language; Bernard Dadie is perhaps one of the best-known writers to emerge in the twentieth century from Ivory Coast.

Graphic Arts: Indigenous graphic art is part of the traditional Côte d'Ivoire culture, including wood sculpting, weaving, pottery making, mask making, jewelry making, carving, and painting.  Many Ivorian artists combine traditional materials such as wood, ivory, clay, and stone with folktales, religious or mythical elements to make their art.


Performing Arts: In Côte d'Ivoire performance art embodies music, dance and festivals.  Music exists everywhere - in everyday activities and religious ceremonies; and most singing is done in groups usually accompanied by traditional instruments.  Dances performed in ceremonies and festivals are most likely to be linked to their history or ethnic beliefs.  The Senufo N'Goron dance, for example, is a colorful initiation dance where young girls wear a fan of feathers and imitate birds.  There are various customs that incorporate music and dance to express the continuation of creation and life; these take on a deep cultural-spiritual significance.