To all our Ivorian store partners and customers, we celebrate you today. August 7th marks Côte d’Ivoire’s Independence Day, and African Dishout is proud to have you as part of our community.
On August 7, 1960, Côte d’Ivoire declared independence from France under the leadership of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, a former cocoa farmer, trained physician, and traditional chief who had spent years in the French National Assembly fighting for African rights, including the abolition of forced labour across the French empire. He became the country’s first president and remained in power for 33 years until his death in 1993, guiding his country through a period of remarkable economic growth that made Côte d’Ivoire one of the most prosperous nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Here are some of the most fascinating things worth knowing about this West African gem.
Côte d’Ivoire produces roughly 40 percent of the world’s cocoa supply, making it the single largest cocoa-producing nation on Earth. If you have eaten a chocolate bar anywhere in the world today, there is a strong chance the cocoa in it came from Ivorian soil.
The country has two capitals. Yamoussoukro is the political capital, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, one of the largest churches in the world, built by Houphouët-Boigny himself. Abidjan is the economic and cultural capital, a bustling metropolis on the Gulf of Guinea and the third largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris and Kinshasa, earning it the nickname “the Paris of West Africa.”
Côte d’Ivoire is home to over 60 ethnic groups and more than 70 indigenous languages, alongside French as the official language. Dioula serves as the most widely spoken trade language across the country, connecting communities from the northern savannas to the southern coast. The country’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites reflect this natural and cultural richness: Taï National Park in the southwest, one of the last primary rainforests in West Africa and home to endangered chimpanzees, and Comoé National Park in the northeast, the largest protected area in all of West Africa.
Culturally, Côte d’Ivoire has given the world coupé-décalé, a high-energy dance and music genre born in the early 2000s among the Ivorian diaspora in Paris before spreading across West Africa and beyond. It is one of the most significant musical exports from the continent in the last two decades, blending Ivorian rhythms with Congolese influences and a celebratory spirit that moves a room. Artists like DJ Arafat, Serge Beynaud, and Magic System have carried the sound across the globe.
And then there is the food. Kedjenou, the national dish, is chicken slow-cooked in a sealed pot with spiced tomato sauce, palm nuts, onions, and herbs until it is impossibly tender. If you are in the Bronx, Chef Paul on the Dishout app does it right. Attiéké, a fermented cassava couscous, and alloco, sweet fried plantain eaten everywhere, with fish, with meat, or nothing at all, are also available across our Ivorian restaurant partners. Use the global search feature on the Dishout app to find them, or set your cuisine preference to Côte d’Ivoire to surface all the Ivorian spots near you.
Happy Independence Day to every Ivorian in the diaspora and beyond. The Elephants have given the world cocoa, coupé-décalé, and a national football team that has made all of Africa proud. Today, we celebrate them.
When did Côte d'Ivoire gain independence?
Côte d'Ivoire gained independence from France on August 7, 1960, under the leadership of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who became the country's first president and remained in power for 33 years until his death in 1993.
What is Côte d'Ivoire most known for?
Côte d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer of cocoa, supplying roughly 40 percent of the global cocoa used in chocolate. It is also known for coupé-décalé, the high-energy music and dance genre born in the Ivorian diaspora in Paris that has since spread across Africa and beyond, and for Abidjan, the third largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris and Kinshasa.
What is the national dish of Côte d'Ivoire?
Kedjenou is the national dish of Côte d'Ivoire, a slow-cooked chicken dish prepared in a sealed pot with spiced tomato sauce, palm nuts, onions, and herbs. Attiéké, a fermented cassava couscous, and alloco, sweet fried plantain, are also staple dishes of Ivorian cuisine.
Can I order Ivorian food on African Dishout?
Yes. African Dishout has Ivorian restaurant partners serving dishes including Kedjenou, Attiéké, and Alloco. If you are in the Bronx, Chef Paul on the Dishout app is a great place to start for Kedjenou. Use the global search feature on the app or set your cuisine preference to Côte d'Ivoire to find all Ivorian spots near you.
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