Culture of Côte d'Ivoire 1786042 221196105 2008-06-23T13:36:44Z ResidueOfDesign 5557416 /* Art */ Plural of "media" The '''culture of Côte d'Ivoire''' is ethnically diverse. More than sixty indigenous [[ethnic groups]] are often cited, although this number may be reduced to seven clusters of ethnic groups by classifying small units together on the basis of common cultural and historical characteristics. These may be reduced to four major cultural regions - the East Atlantic (primarily [[Akan (ethnic group)|Akan]]), West Atlantic (primarily [[Kru]]), [[Voltaic]], and [[Mandé]] -differentiated in terms of environment, economic activity, language, and overall cultural characteristics. In the southern half of the country, East Atlantic and West Atlantic cultures, separated by the [[Bandama River]], each make up almost one-third of the indigenous population. Roughly one-third of the indigenous population lives in the north, including Voltaic peoples in the northeast and Mandé in the northwest. The diverse culture of the Côte d’Ivoire, a coastal West African country bordered by Ghana, Liberia, Mali, [[Burkina Faso]], and [[Guinea]], is exemplified by a multitude of ethnic groups, events and festivals, music, and art. ===Events and Festivals=== The Fêtes des Masques, held in November in the region of [[Man]] (Festival of Masks) is one of the Côte d’Ivoire’s biggest and most well known festivals. Competitions between villages are held in order to find the best dancers, and to pay homage to the forest spirits embodied in the intricate masks. Another important event is the week long carnival in [[Bouaké]] each March.[http://www.africaguide.com/culture/events.htm] In April there is the Fête du Dipri in [[Gomon]], near [[Abidjan]]. This festival starts around midnight, when women and children sneak out of their huts and, naked, carry out nocturnal rites to exorcise the village of evil spells. Before sunrise the chief appears, drums pound and villagers go into trances. The frenzy continues until late afternoon of the next day. The major [[Muslim]] holiday is [[Ramadan]], a month (around December) when everyone fasts between sunup and sunset in accordance with the fourth pillar of [[Islam]]. Ramadan ends with a huge feast, [[Eid al-Fitr]], where everyone prays together, visits friends, gives presents and stuffs themselves. ===Food=== The traditional diet in Cote d'Ivoire is very similar to that of neighboring countries in its reliance on grains and tubers, but the Ivorians have a particular kind of small, open-air restaurant called a maquis which is unique to them. Attiéké (grated cassava) is a popular Côte d'Ivoirian side dish. Côte d'Ivoire's claim to culinary fame? Maquis normally feature braised chicken and fish smothered in onions and tomatoes, served with attiéké, or kedjenou, a chicken dish made with vegetables and a mild sauce. One of the tastiest street-vended foods is aloco, which is ripe banana in palm oil, spiced with steamed onions and chilli and eaten alone or with grilled fish. Bangui is a local palm wine. ===Music=== The traditional music style of many of the ethnic groups of the Côte d’Ivoire is characterized by a series of rhythms and melodies that occur simultaneously, without one dominating the other. Music is used in many aspects of the culture; The [[Dan]] celebrate Rice, Death, Marriage, Birth, and Weather all with music. Instruments include the [[Talking drum]], [[djembe]], [[Kpalogo]], [[Shekere (Youroo)]], [[Akombe]], and [[Cleavers]], and are typically made with local materials, such as gourds, animal skins, and horns. In the past, music has been the main forte of one social group, the [[griot]] (village entertainers). The Côte d’Ivoire’s [[Alpha Blondy]], the world famous [[reggae]] artist, is probably the country’s best known singer, though his music isn’t necessarily representative. ===Art=== Masks are a prevalent art form in the Côte d’Ivoire. The variety and intricacy of masks created by the people of the Côte d’Ivoire is rivaled by none. Masks have many purposes; they are used mostly for representative reason; they can symbolize lesser deities, the souls of the deceased, and even caricatures of animals. They are considered sacred and very dangerous; as such, only certain powerful individuals and families are permitted to own them, and only specially trained individuals may wear the masks. It is dangerous for others to wear ceremonial masks because each mask has a soul, or [[life force]], and when a person's face comes in contact with the inside of the mask that person is transformed into the entity the mask represents. The [[Baoulé]], the [[Dan (or Yacouba)]] and the [[Senoufo]] are all known for their wooden carvings. ==Ethnic Groups== There are more than 60 [[ethnic groups]] in the Côte d’Ivoire, the key ones being the [[Baoulé]] in the center, the [[Agri]] in the east, the [[Senufo]] in the north, the [[Dioula]] in the northwest and west, the [[Bété]] in the center-west and the [[Dan-Yacouba]] in the west. Other groups, such as the [[Akan]] and their sub-groups the Akye, Anye, and Aowin also make up a large part of the population. Each of these groups has their own history, economy, religion, and art, although each shares many things in common with the other groups of the Côte d’Ivoire. [[Migrants]] from other West African countries account for up to 40% of the population, and this large population also adds to the culture and customs. ===Akan=== The [[Akan]] is the major cultural group of the Ivory Coast, with a population of approximately 4 million. The [[Baule]], the [[Akye]], the [[Anye]], the [[Dan]], the [[Asante]] and the [[Aowin]] are all Akan peoples. Among the Akan-speaking peoples of southern [[Ghana]] and adjacent Côte d'Ivoire, ritual pottery and figurative [[terracottas]] are used in connection with funeral practices that date at least to the 1600s. Much of what we know about ancient Akan customs comes to us in the form of oral histories which have survived for several hundred years. Many of the objects that have been recovered through archaeological methods are still produced in modified form among Akan peoples today. The rise of the early Akan centralized states can be traced to the 13th century, and is likely related to the opening of trade routes established to move gold throughout the region. It was not until the end of the 17th century, however, that the grand [[Asante]] Kingdom emerged in the central forest region of Ghana, when several small states united under the Chief of [[Kumasi]] in a move to achieve political freedom from the [[Denkyira]]. ===Baule (Baoule)=== The [[Baule]] people inhabit the Central Côte d’Ivoire. Their population is approximately 400,000 and the language is Baule (Akan cluster of [[Twi]]). ====Art==== The Baule create art in several different media, including gold and brass casting (similar to their Asante ancestors), wooden sculptures, and mask and figure carving. The mask is a primary art form in the Côte d’Ivoire, and the masks of the Baule are greatly influenced by their neighboring peoples, the [[Senufo]] and [[Guro]]. ====Religion==== Ancestor worship and a hierarchy of nature gods make up the religious beliefs of the Baule. [[Alouroua]] is the creator god, and though other nature spirits and spouses are represented in sculpture, Alouroua is never physically manifested in art. ====History==== The Baule are a part of the Akan people who inhabit Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The Baule migrated westward from Ghana when the Asante rose to power. This tale of their breakaway is preserved in their oral traditions. During the Asante rise to power, the Baule queen, [[Aura Poku]], was competing directly with the Asante king. When she lost, she led the Baule away from Ghana and to the Central Côte d’Ivoire. Aura Poku’s descendant occupies the throne and palace she built, and is honored by the Baule as their nominal king. ====Economy==== Markets, run primarily by women, are the center of the [[Baule]] local economy. Yams and some maize are the primary crops. They also export cocoa and koala nuts, using exploited [[migrant laborers]] (mostly from [[Burkina Faso]]) on local [[plantations]]. Crops such as [[maize]], peppers, sweet potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, [[manioc]], and squash were introduced from the Americas during the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. They raise farm animals, like sheep, goats, dogs, and chickens. Their craft items and local produce are sold along with [[imported goods]] all over the world. ====Political Systems==== The [[Baule]] government is highly [[centralized]]; there is a king or chief on top, who inherits his position, along with various subchiefs in charge of local populations. All rely on political advisors who aid in the making of decisions. The primary mask association, The [[Goli]], provides social order among the [[Baule]]. ===Akye=== The [[Akye]] are an [[Akan]] people living in the southern Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of about 55,000. They speak [[Akye]] ([[Akan]] cluster of [[Twi]]). ====Art==== Woodcarving, pottery, and weaving are all art forms of the Akye. The stools carved are seen as “seats of power” and [[akua ba]] (wooden dolls) are associated with fertility. The traditions of pottery and weaving are extensive and long lasting throughout the Akan peoples. Woven on behalf of royalty, [[Kente]] cloth has come to symbolize African power all over the world. ====Religion==== The [[Akan]] believe in an ultimate god, who has various different names depending on the different regions of worship. At one point, according to Akan mythology, this god walked upon the earth with man, but moved high up into the sky after being continuously beaten with a pestle of an old woman pounding [[fufu]]. No [[priests]] serve him directly, and the general belief is that he may be contacted directly. Priests do, however, serve other spirits, acting as a [[conduit]] of the gods, a liaison between them and mankind. There are numerous other gods ([[abosom]]), usually connected to the natural world, like ocean and river spirits, as well as a variety of local spirits who receive their power from this supreme god. The earth itself is considered a [[deity]], and a female one, directly connected to [[fertility]] and fruitfulness. Prayer is held daily, and includes offerings to ancestors and spirits. ====Economy==== Along the coast of the Côte d’Ivoire, fishing is very important, as the [[depleted forests]] hold little promise for hunting. The markets are run mostly by women who as a result hold a large amount of economic power, while the men fish, hunt, and clear land. Both participate in [[agricultural]] tasks. ====Political Systems==== Royal membership among Akan is determined through connection to the land. Anyone who traces decadency from a founding member of a village or town may be considered royal. Each family is responsible for maintaining political and social order within its confines. ===Anye=== The [[Anye]] people live in the Southeastern Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of approximately 100,000. They speak [[Anyi]] ([[Akan]] cluster of [[Twi]]). ====Art==== [[Funerary images]] and [[monuments]] hold special importance among the [[Anye]] people; artistic expression is focused on creating such art forms, for the more beautiful the monument is, the deeper the respect for the deceased. Through these types of [[grave monuments]], dedicated to the [[ancestors]], families can demonstrate their affluence and dedication at the same time. ====History==== A subgroup of the [[Akan]], the [[Anyi]] people migrated to the Cote d’Ivoire from [[Ghana]] between the 16th and 18th centuries. They were never quite as powerful as the [[Asante]] and Baule, and as a result were indirectly under their respective rules at the height of both empires. ==== Economy==== Anyi agricultural economy revolves around banana and [[taro]] production. Yams are also an important staple crop in the region. [[Palm oil]] is also sold as a commodity at the international market. ====Political Systems==== The [[Anyi]] live in loose, spread out neighborhoods of family housing complexes, usually with a [[headman]], directed by a [[Council of Elders]] who represents the town in regional politics. The [[Anyi]], like other [[Akan]] peoples, have a highly [[stratified]] society including a [[hierarchical]] political administration made up of officials with rank and power. Since the Anyi are [[matrilineal]], women have relatively high social status in both the political and economic areas. ====Religion==== Ancestors and [[ancestor worship]] are at the center of the Anyi’s religious beliefs. One should always remember and honor one’s ancestors, and strive to live life so that, in turn, as an ancestor one will be revered and remembered. In keeping with this system, when a person passes, there is an elaborate ceremony with [[ritual washing]], dressing the dead in fine clothes and gold jewelry, and a mourning period allowing the family to show respect for departed and to allow a safe passage and welcome for the deceased into the spirit world. ===Aowin=== The [[Aowin]] people live in the Southern Côte d’Ivoire and Southern [[Ghana]]. They have a population of about 40,000 people, and speak [[Aowin]] ([[Akan]] cluster of [[Twi]]). Their culture is incredibly similar to the other [[Akan]] cultures in the area. ===Dan=== The [[Dan]] are a people who inhabit [[Liberia]] and the [[Côte d’Ivoire]]. They have a population of about 35,000 and speak [[Dan]] ([[Mande]]). ====Art==== Art and music are enormous parts of Dan culture. The primary art form of the Dan is their [[masks]], which emulate virtually every aspect of Dan society. Dan sculptors use masks to represent war, peace, [[social regulation]], and entertainment. [[Mancala]] game boards and stylized wooden spoons are also made with wood carving. ====Religion==== The Dan world view holds that everything can be divided into two separate and clear categories. The primary [[dichotomy]] is between village and bush, in other words, things that have been controlled by man and things that have not. Crossing over the dividing line is dangerous business, and whenever it is done, whether to clear new fields or simply crossing the forest, the bush spirits must be appeased. In order to take part in village life, the bush spirits must take [[corporeal]] form. The Dan believe that all creatures have a spirit soul ([[du]]), which is imparted onto humans and animals from the creator god, [[Xra]], through birth. One's [[du]] is [[immortality|immortal]] and is passed on after death to a new being. However, some [[du]] remain bodiless. They inhabit the forests as [[bush spirits]] and must establish a relationship with a person if they wish to be manifested and honored. Often the spirit will request the chosen person to dance the spirit, utilizing a mask to illustrate the spirit's embodiment. ====History==== [[Oral traditions]] describe the [[Dan]] society of the 19th century as lacking any central governing power. Social cohesion was fostered by a shared language and a preference for intermarriage. Generally, each village had a headman who had earned his position of advantage in the community through hard work in the fields and through luck as a hunter. They usually surrounded themselves with young warriors for protection from invading neighbors and exchanged gifts with other [[Tribal chief|chiefs]] in order to heighten their own prestige. Out of this custom was born the basic tradition of [[tin]] among the [[Dan]], which was based on displaying one's success in order to build a good reputation and name. ====Economy==== The tradition of [[tin]] is still an essential part of the Dan economy today. Young people strive to make a name for themselves by lavishly spending at community feasts to demonstrate their wealth. Although farming and hunting have been largely replaced by laboring in the [[diamond camps]] or working at the [[rubber plantations]], the establishment of a hierarchical social order is still based on the individual's ability to succeed. ====Political Systems==== It has been only recently, through the creation of the [[leopard society]] (go), that a unifying political organization has emerged among the Dan. The secret political society centers around the powerful spirit go, who is responsible for peacemaking. Although the power of go seems to be increasing throughout Dan society, individual villages still maintain a high degree of political independence, and the economic power of the individual is still highly valued. ===Senufo=== The [[Senufo]] people inhabit northern [[Côte d’Ivoire]] and [[Mali]]. ====Art==== Much of the Senufo’s sculpted work is made in the [[poro]], or school. [[Brass sculptures]], [[wood carvings]], and masks are mostly made there, and sold to local artisans. They are expert mask makers, but since farming is the highest profession possible, artists and musicians are low in the [[caste system]] (musicians are bottom). ====History==== The Senufo are made up of a number of different groups who migrated south to Mali and the Cote d’Ivoire in the 15th and 16th centuries. ====Religion==== The Senufo are a very [[animistic]] society; they believe that the [[ancestor spirits]] are responsible for all events that occur, and if they are not appeased through proper [[ritual]] they may cause drought, [[infertility]], and illness. ===Political System/Economy=== The Senufo are known as excellent farmers, and are mainly a farming society. They live by a strict [[caste system]], where the farmer is top and the musicians are at the bottom, everyone else filling in between. One of the highest possible honors given in the Senefou culture is the [[sambali]] (champion cultivator), who is respected throughout the region and in his old age is typically given a strong leadership role. Even for those who do not belong to the farmer [[caste]], farming is huge in the [[Senefou]] [[culture]]. The society is very community centered; people often take turns working each other’s lands, trading off and on. There is usually a group in each village made up of men from ages 15 to 35, who are in charge of working in the fields and providing a huge festival during the dry season. To make farming and chores fun, local games to see how fast a man can hoe a field are held. Another society for men is the [[poro]], or school for young men, usually located in the forest. For Senefou women, the greatest ability is the ability to cook well; if a woman or girl cannot, it is a shame to the family. The women’s society, [[sandogo]], is responsible mainly for divination. ==See also== *[[Côte d'Ivoire]] *[[Languages of Côte d'Ivoire]] {{Africa in topic|Culture of}} {{loc}} [[Category:Ivorian culture|*]] [[fr:Culture de la Côte d'Ivoire]] [[pt:Cultura da Costa do Marfim]]