The Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire: Collections and What to Know Before You Visit

If you want to see the art and everyday objects of every region of Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer) in one place, the Museum of Civilisations of Côte d'Ivoire (Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire) in Abidjan is the best place to start. Its collections range from masks and statues to Akan gold weights, and it is about to become the new home of a returned artefact, the "talking drum".

From colonial research institute to national museum

According to Abidjan tourist-circuit guides, the museum was founded by the colonial government in 1942 and stands in Abidjan's Plateau district. A study published on AfricArXiv traces its origins to the 1940s programme of the French Institute of Black Africa (IFAN) in French West Africa; the French ethnologist Bohumil Holas ran the museum from 1948 to 1978 and, after independence, gave its collections a role in documenting the country's peoples and in cultural diplomacy.

A 2018 AFP report notes that the museum building features 20 finely carved wooden pillars, and that former Senegalese president Senghor praised the richness of the collections on a visit in 1971. In 2011 around 120 objects were stolen; the museum then closed for two years of renovation and reopened in July 2017.

What to see in the collections

According to project documents from France's Expertise France, the collections number more than 15,200 objects. Tourist guides list the following categories:

Renovation and the "talking drum"

A February 2026 press release from the French Ministry of Culture states that the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs is contributing €4.3 million to modernise the museum. The work includes digitising part of the collections and the Djidji Ayokwè drum, renovating several galleries and the central hall, planning new exhibitions and training staff. The drum, seized by the colonial administration in 1916, arrived in Abidjan on 13 March 2026 and is to be installed in the renovated central hall. Expertise France's project documents also mention that the museum will introduce digital audio guides and a "Micro-Folie" digital exhibition system developed with the Parc de La Villette in Paris.

However, as of an AFP report in August 2026, no reopening date had yet been announced.

Before you visit

• Check whether it is open: galleries and opening hours may change during the renovation, so check the museum's official website or social media before you go; this article does not give opening times or ticket prices.
• Do a little homework: if you have already read up on Senufo, Dan or Akan gold weights, you will find it easier to spot the differences on site.
• Ask before taking photos: some exhibits may be subject to photography restrictions; simply follow the rules on site.
• Make it your first stop: build an overall picture at the museum first, then visit workshops and markets in the regions for a richer understanding.

One line for Asian readers

A national museum is often the quickest way to understand how a country sees itself; in Côte d'Ivoire, this museum is making a fresh start, and its reopening is worth keeping an eye on.

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References: French Ministry of Culture — Restitution du tambour parleur Djidji Ayokwé (2026); Expertise France — Museum cooperation in Côte d'Ivoire; ADF / AFP — Côte d'Ivoire's African art museum gets new lease on life (2018); AfricArXiv — From colonial ethnology to museum diplomacy; Africanews — Ivory Coast celebrates return of sacred talking drum (2026); Circuits touristiques d'Abidjan (AMUGA)