Column
Reading Africa · Column
Art, lifestyle, cross-cultural and business: three-to-five-minute reads, always sourced. Exclusive to this site.
- 01African Art & Taste24 articles Read this topic
- 02Lifestyle25 articles Read this topic
- 03Cross-cultural Communication25 articles Read this topic
- 04African Business & Markets26 articles Read this topic
- African Business & Markets4 min Abidjan and San Pedro Ports: What Each of Côte d'Ivoire's Two Logistics Gateways Does Best Côte d'Ivoire's deep-water ports compared: Abidjan, trade backbone and gateway to Burkina Faso and Mali, vs San Pedro, cocoa and bulk export hub. Read
- Lifestyle3 min A Beginner's Guide to Abidjan's Markets: What to Buy in Treichville, Cocody and Adjamé Abidjan's markets explained — Treichville for fabric, food and tailors, CAVA for carvings and bronze, Cocody's multi-storey market and Adjamé's food wholesale. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Abidjan Metro and Major Infrastructure: Where Things Stand in 2026 Abidjan Metro Line 1 (37 km, 18 stations, Anyama to Port-Bouët) now targets 2028–2029. Progress to October 2026, plus the fourth bridge and the BRT. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Abidjan's Modernist Architecture: La Pyramide, Hôtel Ivoire and the 1960s–70s After independence in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire saw a modernist building boom. Architects, dates and current state of La Pyramide and Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan. Read
- Lifestyle4 min Getting Around Abidjan: Taxis, Woro-woro, Gbaka and Water Buses How Abidjan's transport works: orange taxis, colour-coded woro-woro shared taxis, gbaka minibuses, SOTRA buses, lagoon water buses and metro progress. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Abissa: The Annual Festival of the N'zima People of Grand-Bassam Abissa, the N'zima traditional new year in Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, held around October–November: sacred drum, seven families, criticism and reconciliation. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Kouassi, Adjoua, Kouamé: The Akan Tradition of Naming by Day of Birth Why you meet so many Kouassi, Koffi and Adjoua in Côte d'Ivoire — a table of Akan and Baoulé day names and birth-order names, and what they mean for business. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Baoulé and Akan Gold Jewellery: The Role of Gold in Ritual and Identity Baoulé and Akan gold in Côte d'Ivoire as heirloom, ancestral memory and status — lost-wax casting, how families keep and display gold, and tips for buyers. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Akan Brass Goldweights: How a Tool for Weighing Gold Dust Became Art Akan goldweights (abrammuo): lost-wax brass weights for gold dust from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire — use, history, weighing kit, what to look for, buying replicas. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Buying Art and Crafts in Côte d'Ivoire: Authentication, Bargaining Etiquette and Export Documents — A Guide for Asian Collectors Buying carvings, masks or Korhogo cloth in Côte d'Ivoire? Antiques vs crafts, bargaining etiquette, cultural heritage export rules and export certificates. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Assinie: The Coastal Weekend Escape of Abidjan Assinie, 80–90-odd km east of Abidjan between the Aby Lagoon and the Atlantic, is the city's go-to beach getaway. Geography, early history, La Passe and tips. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Aya de Yopougon: A Comic-Book Window onto 1970s Abidjan Aya de Yopougon, the French comic by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, follows young people in 1970s Abidjan. Story, awards, animated film, reading tips. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Banco National Park: A Tropical Forest Inside Abidjan Banco National Park: a 3,474-ha tropical forest in Abidjan, created in 1953, supplying about 40% of nearby water. History, arboretum, wildlife and hikes. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Banking in Côte d'Ivoire: How the BCEAO, the Banking Commission and Commercial Banks Divide the Work Ivorian banks are supervised by the BCEAO and the Abidjan-based WAMU Banking Commission. About 28 banks, the union's top market: rules, leading banks, data. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min How to Look at a Baoulé Sculpture: Figures, Spirit Spouses (blolo bla / blolo bian) and the Aesthetics of Being Seen Baoulé (Baule) figure carving, a Côte d'Ivoire icon: what spirit spouse figures were for, Baoulé ideals of beauty, and how museums change the way we see them. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Frédéric Bruly Bouabré: The Ivorian Artist Who Invented a Writing System Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (1923–2014), self-taught Ivorian Bété artist, created a script for the oral Bété language after a 1948 vision. His life, script, works. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min BRVM: The Abidjan-Based Regional Stock Exchange Shared by Eight West African Countries The BRVM, the Abidjan-based stock exchange shared by eight WAEMU countries, had 47 listed firms and a market cap of about XOF 24.8 trillion at end-2025. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Business Dress in Côte d'Ivoire: Suit or Pagne? Dressing for the Occasion Business dress in Côte d'Ivoire: tropical-weight suits, women's attire, where pagne and wax prints come from and when to wear them, religious sites, villages. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Business Gift-Giving in Côte d'Ivoire: What to Give and How Business gifts in Côte d'Ivoire: when to give, what to choose, religious and dietary points, how to present gifts, and compliance tips for Asian teams. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Cashew Processing: How Côte d'Ivoire Is Moving from Raw Exports to Local Processing Côte d'Ivoire, top raw cashew producer, marketed about 1.55 Mt in 2025; local processing rose from 2% in 2011 to 43% in 2025. Policy, plants, 2030 goals. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Visiting Villages and Traditional Chiefs: Basic Etiquette in Côte d'Ivoire Visiting a village in Côte d'Ivoire: who to see first, greeting a traditional chief through a spokesperson, what gift to bring, and chieftaincy today. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Climate and Seasons in Côte d'Ivoire: When Is the Best Time to Go? Côte d'Ivoire's climate: two rainy seasons in the south, one in the north, a drier December–February with harmattan. Abidjan rainfall and best times to go. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Comoé National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site of Savannah and Rivers Comoé National Park, north-east Côte d'Ivoire: 11,500 km² of savannah, UNESCO-listed in 1983, off the danger list in 2017. Ecology, recovery, visiting. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min Funerals and Condolences: Their Meaning and Basic Etiquette in Ivorian Society Funerals in Côte d'Ivoire: condolences, wakes and burials spread over weeks or months, and how to offer condolences in French to a bereaved colleague. Read
- African Business & Markets4 min Beyond Cocoa: Côte d'Ivoire's Main Exports and What They Mean for Asian Companies Côte d'Ivoire's exports beyond cocoa: cashew, rubber, gold, oil and palm oil. Latest output data, Asian export markets and the push for local processing. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Dan Masks of Western Côte d'Ivoire: How to Appreciate Them and What to Know When Collecting (Respect and Legal Provenance) Dan masks of western Côte d'Ivoire: their meaning, roles such as Deangle, reading character from form, and respect and legal provenance when collecting. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Dioula: The Common Language of West African Markets Dioula (Dyula, Jula), West Africa's market lingua franca: language family, speakers, trade history, writing systems and a useful greeting in Côte d'Ivoire. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Côte d'Ivoire's Economy at a Glance: GDP, Growth and Economic Structure Explained Côte d'Ivoire's economy: nominal GDP near US$100bn in 2025, real growth above 6%. Inflation, debt and sector structure from IMF and World Bank data. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min The Power Sector: Côte d'Ivoire's Generation Mix and Regional Electricity Exports Côte d'Ivoire's power sector: 3,019 MW installed in 2024, mostly thermal and hydro. Generation mix, key players, regional exports and 2030 renewables goal. Read
- Lifestyle4 min The Fête des Masques in Man: Festival Culture in Western Côte d'Ivoire The Fête des Masques in Man, western Côte d'Ivoire: Dan masks, stilt-mask dances, festival formats and dates, and what to check before you go. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Which African countries speak French? One table explains it Which countries make up francophone Africa, where French is official or co-official, what changed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and how many speak it. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min How to write a French business email: greetings, key phrases, sign-offs and templates French business emails for Côte d'Ivoire: Madame, Monsieur or Bonjour? Veuillez agréer or Cordialement? Greetings, key phrases, sign-offs and templates. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min The French business proposal: structure and key phrases Writing a French business proposal for Côte d'Ivoire: standard structure, title page, executive summary, pricing, payment terms, validity and key phrases. Read
- African Business & Markets2 min Reading a French business card: PDG, DG, PCA and who signs Doing business in Côte d'Ivoire and francophone West Africa? A quick guide to PCA, DG, PDG, DGA, DAF and Gérant, and how to find out who can sign for a company. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min French for business documents: devis, bon de commande, facture proforma, avoir… French trade documents in Côte d'Ivoire: is a signed devis binding? Proforma vs invoice, bon de commande, avoir, and the FNE electronic invoice. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min French meeting vocabulary: ordre du jour, compte rendu, procès-verbal… Convocation, ordre du jour, compte rendu or procès-verbal? How French meeting documents differ, with key terms and phrases for meetings in Côte d'Ivoire. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Dates, numbers and amounts in French-speaking countries (1 234,56; 03/11/2026) In Côte d'Ivoire 03/11/2026 is 3 November, 1 234,56 uses a decimal comma and a French billion is a trillion: dates, numbers and CFA franc amounts. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min French phone etiquette: key phrases for answering, transfers and messages Calling a company in Côte d'Ivoire? French phone phrases for answering, transfers, holding, messages and ending calls, plus Ivorian number formats. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Grand-Bassam: a UNESCO-listed colonial town near Abidjan, how far and what to see Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire's first colonial capital and UNESCO site since 2012: its history, why the capital moved, getting there from Abidjan, what to see. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min Greetings are not small talk: etiquette in Côte d'Ivoire (handshakes, elders, greet first) Greetings build trust in Côte d'Ivoire: who to shake hands with, asking after family first, elders and Muslim guests, and useful French phrases. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Age and hierarchy: how to show respect in meetings in Côte d'Ivoire Age, rank and seniority shape Ivorian business meetings: who to greet first, who speaks first and how to disagree. Etiquette for Asian teams. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Reading West Africa through Hofstede's cultural dimensions: uses and limits Hofstede's West Africa scores: where they come from, why Côte d'Ivoire is missing, and what power distance can and cannot tell Asian firms. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Forms of address and titles: using Docteur, Maître, Excellence and Monsieur le Ministre Maître for lawyers, Monsieur le Ministre for ministers, Excellence for whom? French titles and forms of address in Côte d'Ivoire. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Hosting Ivorian guests in Asia: food, scheduling and etiquette Hosting Ivorian clients in Asia: time difference, dietary needs, halal options, handshakes and gift timing. A practical guide for hosts. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Where to stay in Abidjan: accommodation types and how to choose for business travellers Where to stay in Abidjan on business: hotels vs apart-hotels, Ivorian star ratings, ECOWAS categories, and choosing by area and length of stay. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Importing into Côte d'Ivoire: the GUCE single window and customs clearance Importing into Côte d'Ivoire via the GUCE single window: import code, FDI declaration, RFCV/AV inspection, documents, permits, duties and VAT. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Côte d'Ivoire's 2018 Investment Code: the incentive framework for foreign investors Côte d'Ivoire's 2018 Investment Code: declaration vs approval, zones A, B and C, tax holidays and credits, excluded sectors, investor duties. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min An introduction to Ivorian cinema: directors, films and festivals Ivorian cinema primer: Visages de femmes, Bal poussière, two FESPACO Golden Stallions, La Nuit des rois, key directors and local festivals. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Ivorian coffee: the story of a robusta origin Ivorian robusta coffee: once the world's No. 3 producer, its 1970s peak, recent output, growing regions, arabusta and local coffee habits. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Bissap, gnamakoudji (ginger juice) and bangui palm wine: everyday drinks in Côte d'Ivoire Bissap hibiscus drink, gnamakoudji ginger juice and bangui palm wine: Côte d'Ivoire's everyday drinks, how they're made and when they're served. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min Côte d'Ivoire's Ethnic Groups: A Primer on the Akan, Kru, Mandé and Gur Cultural Clusters Côte d'Ivoire's 60+ ethnic groups are often grouped into four clusters: Akan, Kru, Mandé and Gur. Where each lives, key peoples and why it matters for business. Read
- Lifestyle4 min An Introduction to the Ivorian Table: Attiéké, Garba, Alloco, Placali, Foutou and Sauce Graine Explained New to Ivorian food? Attiéké, garba, alloco, placali, foutou and sauce graine explained: what they are, how they are made and how they are paired. Read
- Lifestyle4 min Ivorian Football: Les Éléphants and Hosting and Winning the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations How Côte d'Ivoire's Les Éléphants hosted and won AFCON 2023, played in 2024, after nearly going out, beating Nigeria 2–1; the six stadiums and 2026 World Cup. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min An Introduction to Ivorian Literature: Ahmadou Kourouma, Bernard Dadié and Their Key Works Where to start with Ivorian literature: Dadié, Kourouma and Véronique Tadjo, with key works, dates, prizes, English translations and a reading list. Read
- Lifestyle4 min Public Holidays in Côte d'Ivoire: Check This Table Before Planning a Business Trip Côte d'Ivoire's public holidays at a glance, the Sunday carry-over rule, and how to estimate and confirm moving Islamic holidays like Tabaski and Maouloud. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Ivorian Reggae: Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly Côte d'Ivoire is a hub of African reggae. Meet Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly: their lives, rise to fame, key albums, awards and multilingual singing. Read
- Lifestyle4 min Weddings in Côte d'Ivoire: The Traditional Wedding (la dot) and the Civil Marriage Ivorian couples often marry twice: la dot, the traditional union of two families, and the legally binding civil marriage. Meaning, steps, 2019 law, guest tips. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Kedjenou: Côte d'Ivoire's Chicken Stew and the Clay-Pot Cooking Behind It Kedjenou, Côte d'Ivoire's signature chicken stew, slow-cooked sealed in a canari clay pot with almost no water, shaken not stirred. Origins, method, pairings. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Korhogo: The Cultural Heartland of the Senufo in Northern Côte d'Ivoire Korhogo, northern Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and Senufo cultural centre, ringed by weaving, cloth-painting, blacksmith and carving villages. Travel tips. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Korhogo Cloth: Animals and Stories Hand-Painted on Cotton by the Senufo Korhogo cloth: the Senufo painted textile of northern Côte d'Ivoire, on handwoven cotton with plant dyes. How it is made, motifs, fila roots and the market. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Labour Law Basics in Côte d'Ivoire: CDI, CDD, Probation and CNPS Social Security Côte d'Ivoire labour law essentials before hiring: CDI vs CDD contracts, 2024 probation rules, 40-hour week, minimum wage and CNPS contribution rates. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Man and the Western Mountains: Waterfalls, Peaks and Liana Bridges Man, hub of Côte d'Ivoire's western mountains: Dent de Man, Mont Tonkpi, waterfalls, Dan liana bridges, plus geography, culture and travel planning tips. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min MASA, Abidjan's Performing Arts Market: What It Is and Why It Matters MASA, the Abidjan performing arts market founded in 1993: its history, IN and OFF programmes, the 2026 14th edition, and its value for curators and promoters. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min How a Business Meeting Runs in Côte d'Ivoire: Opening, Agenda and Follow-up Business meetings in Côte d'Ivoire step by step: scheduling, greetings, business cards, agenda and follow-up, with practical French for Asian teams. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min The Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire: Collections and What to Know Before You Visit Abidjan's Museum of Civilisations, founded in 1942: 15,200+ objects, from masks and gold weights to instruments, its renovation and the returned talking drum. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Côte d'Ivoire's National Development Plan 2026–2030 (PND): Which Sectors the Government Is Prioritising Côte d'Ivoire's PND 2026–2030: a CFA 114.8 trillion plan, 70% private-funded, with six pillars, a 7.2% growth target and priority sectors for investors. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Pâquinou: the Baoulé Easter Homecoming Pâquinou, the Baoulé Easter homecoming in central Côte d'Ivoire: its meaning, family and village traditions, and how it affects travel and business schedules. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Photography Etiquette: What You Can Shoot in Côte d'Ivoire and How to Ask First Photography etiquette in Côte d'Ivoire: asking people and children, markets, public buildings and sensitive sites, drone rules, plus handy French phrases. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Product Standards and Certification: CODINORM and Côte d'Ivoire's Mandatory Standards Selling products into Côte d'Ivoire: CODINORM's role, NI standards, the 2016 mandatory-standards decree, import conformity checks and certificate validity. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Public Procurement in Côte d'Ivoire: Where to Find Tenders and How Foreign Companies Can Take Part Public procurement in Côte d'Ivoire: the 2019 code, DGMP and ANRMP, the SYGOMAP e-procurement platform, tender notices, SME set-asides and donor projects. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min Religion and Business Dining in Côte d'Ivoire: Food, Drink and Timing Muslims and Christians are roughly equal in number in Côte d'Ivoire. How to handle pork, alcohol, Ramadan timing and table manners when hosting a business meal. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Retail in Côte d'Ivoire: How Supermarkets, Malls and Traditional Markets Coexist Côte d'Ivoire retail: hundreds of public markets alongside 359 supermarkets and 19 hypermarkets, nearly 90% in Abidjan. Channels, chains, malls and e-commerce. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min The Right-Hand Rule: Basic Etiquette for Passing, Shaking Hands and Eating in Côte d'Ivoire In Côte d'Ivoire, which hand you use matters. The right-hand rule for passing things, paying, handshakes and eating by hand, plus shared-meal etiquette. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Sassandra: A Small Coastal Town and Fishing Port Sassandra, on Côte d'Ivoire's southwest coast, was a key colonial port. Its history, its fishing port, beaches and colonial buildings worth seeing. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Senufo Sculpture and the Poro Society: How to Appreciate It, and How to Respect It Senufo sculpture from northern Côte d'Ivoire and the Poro (lô) society: the name's origins, main object types, and the respect Poro objects call for. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min The Balafon: The Senufo Xylophone and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage The balafon, the Senufo xylophone: its structure, role in festivals and rites, transmission, and UNESCO listings in 2012 and with Indonesia's kolintang in 2024. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Setting Up a Company in Côte d'Ivoire: The CEPICI One-Stop Shop and an Introduction to SARL, SA and SAS Setting up a company in Côte d'Ivoire: the CEPICI one-stop shop, SARL, SA and SAS capital and governance under OHADA, and rules for foreign branches. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Staying Connected on Arrival: Mobile Operators, SIM Registration and Mobile Data in Côte d'Ivoire Getting a local SIM in Côte d'Ivoire: Orange, MTN and Moov market shares and data users, SIM registration rules, ID for foreigners, and 5G progress. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Special Economic Zones and Industrial Zones in Côte d'Ivoire: the VITIB Tech Free Zone and Abidjan's Industrial Estates The VITIB tech free zone in Grand-Bassam and SOGEDI's industrial zones around Abidjan (incl. PK24): size, sectors, tax incentives and the 2025 law. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min The Startup Ecosystem in Côte d'Ivoire: Incubators, the Startup Act and Leading Sectors Côte d'Ivoire's 2023 Startup Act and label scheme, key incubators, leading sectors, and Abidjan's climb to 576th in the StartupBlink 2025 ranking. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Strip Weaving: Côte d'Ivoire's Hand-Woven Cloth Traditions (Baoulé, Senufo) and Their Link to Ghana's Kente How Baoulé and Senufo weavers in Côte d'Ivoire make narrow-strip cloth, the role of Dyula weavers and indigo ikat, and how it relates to Ghanaian kente. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Taï National Park: One of West Africa's Last Great Primary Rainforests (UNESCO World Heritage) Taï National Park, south-west Côte d'Ivoire: UNESCO World Heritage rainforest since 1982 — history, pygmy hippos, nut-cracking chimpanzees, ecotourism. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min The Talking Drum Djidji Ayokwè: How France Returned It to Côte d'Ivoire The Ebrié (Atchan) talking drum Djidji Ayokwè, seized by France in 1916, returned to Côte d'Ivoire in 2026: its meaning, timeline and display plans. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Côte d'Ivoire's Tax System at a Glance: Corporate Tax, VAT and the Tax Authorities Côte d'Ivoire tax basics: DGI and customs, 25% corporate tax and minimum tax, 18% and 9% VAT, turnover-based regimes, payroll tax, e-impôts and e-invoicing. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Côte d'Ivoire's Telecom Market: Three Operators and the Pace of Digitalisation Côte d'Ivoire telecoms: Orange, MTN and Moov, nearly 60 million mobile subscriptions in 2025, ARTCI regulation, mobile internet and fibre growth. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Sublime Côte d'Ivoire: How the Ivorian Government Is Developing Tourism Sublime Côte d'Ivoire, the 2018 national tourism strategy aiming for Africa's top five: goals, official results, global marketing and 2030 plans. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Trade Fairs and Industry Events: Where Asian Companies Can Start in Côte d'Ivoire Key Abidjan trade fairs for Asian companies exploring Côte d'Ivoire: SARA, SITLA, Jnec-CI cashew days, IvoirTech Forum and Africa CEO Forum 2027. Read
- African Business & Markets3 min Registering a Trademark in French-speaking Africa: One OAPI Application Covers 17 Countries Trademark registration via OAPI for Côte d'Ivoire: one filing for 17 countries, agent rules, opposition, 10-year term, Madrid System, role of OIPI. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication4 min Tu or Vous? Getting French Formality Right in West African Business Tu or vous in Côte d'Ivoire and French-speaking West Africa: when to use vous, who proposes tu, and whether to answer tu with tu in business. Read
- African Business & Markets4 min UEMOA vs ECOWAS (CEDEAO): How West Africa's Two Economic Blocs Differ and Overlap UEMOA vs ECOWAS (CEDEAO): members, headquarters, roles, the five-band common external tariff, and the 2025 exit of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Uniwax and Côte d'Ivoire's Wax Print Industry Uniwax, the Abidjan wax print maker founded in 1967, printed for Dior and is listed on the BRVM: its history, fashion role, 2026 COIC takeover and challenges. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min The Origins of African Wax Print: the Netherlands, Indonesia and West African Markets African wax print began as Javanese batik, industrialised in Europe for West African markets: its timeline, pattern names and the rise of Asian makers. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min Wè (Guéré) Masks: a Mask Tradition of Western Côte d'Ivoire Wè (Guéré, Wobé) masks from western Côte d'Ivoire, known for horns, wide mouths and fangs: their role, main types, forms and respectful collecting. Read
- Lifestyle4 min What Is a Maquis? Côte d'Ivoire's Open-Air Eatery Culture, and How to Order and Pay on Your First Visit The maquis, Côte d'Ivoire's open-air eatery, serves grilled chicken and fish with attiéké or alloco: its name, dishes, etiquette, and how to order and pay. Read
- African Business & Markets4 min What Is OHADA? The Business Law Shared by 17 African Countries, and Three Things Foreign Companies Should Know OHADA gives 17 African countries one business law: members, institutions, Uniform Acts, RCCM registration and the CCJA court in Abidjan, for Asian firms. Read
- African Art & Taste4 min How to Care for and Display African Wood Sculpture: the Basics for Collectors How to display, clean and handle African wood carvings and masks: museum advice on humidity, temperature, light, placement, dusting, pests and handling. Read
- Cross-cultural Communication3 min Working with Interpreters: Preparing for French–Chinese and French–English Business Interpreting Meeting partners in French-speaking West Africa? Simultaneous vs consecutive interpreting, what to give interpreters, and AIIC tips for speakers. Read
- Lifestyle3 min Yamoussoukro: Côte d'Ivoire's Political Capital, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and Its Story Yamoussoukro is Côte d'Ivoire's official capital, Abidjan its economic one: why it became capital, its founding president, and the world's largest church. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Zaouli: the Guro Mask Dance and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Zaouli, the Guro mask dance of central Côte d'Ivoire, UNESCO-listed since 2017: its meaning, how it is passed on, and how to watch and share respectfully. Read
- African Art & Taste3 min Zouglou: the Ivorian Music Born in University Halls of Residence Zouglou, born in 1990 in Abidjan's university halls, grew from student chants into a national genre: origins, roots, three generations and where to start. Read