Côte d'Ivoire — books & literature

The story of Côte d'Ivoire

Long before European contact, the land now called Cote d'Ivoire was home to successive kingdoms and peoples , including the Senufo in the north, the Akan-related Baoule and Agni in the centre and east, and the Kru and Dan peoples in the west and south , connected by trade routes carrying gold, kola nuts, and salt. French traders and missionaries arrived on the coast from the 17th century, drawn partly by the ivory trade that gave the country its name, and France declared it a colony in 1893, folding it into French West Africa. Cocoa and coffee plantations built under colonial rule reshaped the economy. Independence came on 7 August 1960, and the country's first president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, held power for 33 years, steering rapid growth often called the "Ivorian miracle" and moving the capital to his hometown of Yamoussoukro in 1983. His death in 1993 opened a harder chapter: political crisis, a 2002-2007 civil war, and a violent 2010-2011 disputed election. Since then Cote d'Ivoire has rebuilt as one of West Africa's fastest-growing economies, still the world's leading cocoa producer and a rising centre of West African literature and music.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 1600s

   Coastal trade with European (mainly French) merchants begins, naming the region for its ivory trade.

2. 1893

   Cote d'Ivoire formally becomes a French colony, later part of French West Africa.

3. 1960

   Independence from France (7 August); Felix Houphouet-Boigny becomes first president.

4. 1983

   Capital officially moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.

5. 1990

   Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the world's largest church by area, is consecrated.

6. 1993

   Houphouet-Boigny dies after 33 years in power, Africa's longest-serving president at the time.

7. 2002-2007

   Civil war splits the country into a rebel-held north and government-held south.

8. 2010-2011

   Disputed presidential election triggers a violent post-election crisis; Alassane Ouattara takes office in 2011.

9. 2015

   Peaceful re-election of President Ouattara signals a period of stabilisation and economic growth.

Top 10 things to know about Côte d'Ivoire

1. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer of cocoa beans, supplying roughly two-fifths of the global supply.
2. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is recognised as the largest church building in the world by area.
3. French is the official language, but more than 70 indigenous languages are spoken, including Baoule, Dioula, Bete, and Senufo.
4. The national flag (orange-white-green) is the reverse colour order of the Irish flag, a coincidence often noted by visitors.
5. The national football team, nicknamed 'Les Elephants', won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, 2015, and 2023 (hosted at home).
6. Comoe National Park and Tai National Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites protecting West African rainforest and savanna wildlife.
7. Abidjan is one of the largest and most economically important cities in West Africa, often called the "Paris of West Africa".
8. The country's name means 'Coast of Ivory' in French, from the historic ivory trade along its shores.
9. Coupe-decale and zouglou are Ivorian music genres that have spread across French-speaking Africa and its diaspora.
10. Cote d'Ivoire is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and shares the CFA franc currency.

Famous people from Côte d'Ivoire

Say it in Côte d'Ivoire's language

Did you know?

• ★Cote d'Ivoire grows and exports more cocoa than any other country on Earth , the foundation of most of the world's chocolate.
• ★The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro was modelled on St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and is even taller, though its dome is smaller.
• ★The country's flag colours (orange, white, green) are the exact reverse of Ireland's flag (green, white, orange) , a frequent trivia coincidence.

Côte d'Ivoire culture

• Attieke (grated cassava) and kedjenou (slow-simmered chicken or fish stew) are staple national dishes, often eaten together.
• Coupe-decale, born from Ivorian nightlife in the 2000s, and zouglou, a student protest-born music style, are two of West Africa's most influential music genres.
• Football is a unifying national passion , the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title, won on home soil in Abidjan, sparked nationwide celebration.
• Masked dance traditions, especially among the Dan and Senufo peoples, remain central to ceremonies and are recognised for their craftsmanship.

Why read Côte d'Ivoire's books

From Bernard Dadie's pioneering tales and poems to Ahmadou Kourouma's genre-defining novels of independence and its discontents, Ivorian literature turned the upheavals of colonisation, independence, and civil war into some of Francophone Africa's most acclaimed writing.