Enjoying the Culture of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivorie

Each month, the affiliated participating communities will enjoy the culture of a different Port of Call location. The communities will host activities centered on food, games, and fun. This month, the Port of Call location is Abidjan, Cote d’Ivorie!

About Abidjan, Cote d’Ivorie

Abidjan is a city located along the Ébrié Lagoon, starting as a village in 1898 and becoming a town in 1903. In 1903, the Vridi Canal made the city into a major shipping and financial area^.1

Experts estimate that there were roughly 30.9 million inhabitants in Abidjan, making it the 3^rd largest country in West Africa. The official language of Abidjan is French, but there are estimated to be 78 languages spoken on the Cote d'Ivorie!²

Fun Things to do in Abidjan

Tours

Abidjan offers a variety of tours to people who come to visit this beautiful city. There are city tours, which will take people through different parts of city with a group, from local businesses to famous landmarks. There are also walking tours, bus tours, historical tours, and private tours available for those who want to experience Abidjan at a different pace.³

Art Galleries

Abidjan boasts a host of art galleries with talent and history from all over the country. The Cecile Fakhoury opened its doors in September 2012, and it promotes contemporary art from throughout Africa with art fairs, exhibitions, biennales, and collaborations with international galleries.⁴ The Galerie Eureka Abidjan has hosted many different art fairs and tours throughout the years.⁵

Shopping

If you like to shop, Abidjan has plenty of local malls and department stores to visit! The PlaYce-Marcory hosts a variety of shops, from toys to art, along with local specialties.⁶ Other places to shop, according to Tripadvisor, are Style Avenue and Influence of Style.⁷

Churches

If you like to visit different churches and look at their beautiful history and architecture, Abidjan has a few to add to your bucket list. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world, and could hold up to 18,000 worshippers.⁸ There is also St. Paul’s Cathedral in Abidjan, with the first stone of the cathedral being consecrated by Pope John Paul II.⁹

Food in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivorie

There are estimated to be roughly 60 ethnic groups who have influenced the food on the Cote d’Ivorie. Even though they all have different diets, most of the diets consist of grains and tubers (which are rooted vegetables). Other staples include yams, rice, plantains, corn, chicken, meat, and peanuts.¹⁰

The national dish of Cote d’Ivorie is fufu, which is a pounded meat typically found in West African cuisine. The natives of Cote d’Ivorie use a method to separately mix and pound boiled cassava with green plantains or cocoyams, or by mixing cassava or cocoyam flour with water and stirring it on a stove. They will typically eat fufu with a broth-like soup.¹¹

There are many street vendors and markets that sell traditional Abidjan cuisine, as well as a maquis, which is an outdoor restaurant unique to Cote d’Ivorie. Maquis restaurants sell braised food, which is food cooked over a fire, and chicken and fish are also commonly served at these locations.¹²

Recipes

Each month, the participating communities will host a Port of Call meal. They will serve food to help the residents experience the culture from the comfort of their own home. Check out the recipes for this month! Please note that the menu is subject to change and that these recipes are not final.

Abidjan Roasted Cauliflower Salad

15 lbs of cauliflower florettes fresh/frozen
4 cups of red onion sliced thin
1 cup of fresh mint chopped
5 cups of green beans cut small
1 cups of parsley chopped
2 cups of vegetable oil
3 TBSP of garlic chopped
1 TBSP of salt
1 TBSP of pepper black ground
1 TBSP of cinnamon ground
1 TEASP of clove ground
1 TEASP of nutmeg ground
1 TBSP of cumin ground
1 cups of vinegar

Method:

In a large mixing bow, combine all of the ingredients and toss well. Lay evenly on sheet pans over wax paper.
Roast at 375f for 25 minutes. Combine back together in a container with juices to marinate over night and chill.

Kedjenou Chicken Stew, White Rice And Turnip Stew

Chicken Stew

50 EA of chicken thigh skin on bone in 5 oz
1 EA of red bell peppers diced canned #10 can
1 EA of diced tomato in juice # 10 can
5 cups of diced onion yellow
2 TBSP of garlic minced
1 TBSP of salt
1 TBSP of pepper black ground
2 TBSP of paprika
4 TBSP of tomato paste
1 TEASP of thyme dried
1 TEASP of ginger ground
2 cups of flour all purpose
1 cups of vegetable oil
1 cups of butter

Method

Pat dry the chicken thighs and dredge in flour, shake off all the excess.
In a large round pot, melt the butter and vegetable oil. Sear chicken thighs skin side down until they are golden brown. Do all sides.
Add all other ingredients into the pot, add all seasonings, cover and simmer for 50 minutes until the chicken is tender. Serve chicken with a large spoon of sauce.

Turnip And Spinach Stew

10 LB of turnips chopped defrosted
10 LB of spinach chopped
5 cups of coconut milk canned
1 TBSP of salt
1 TBSP of pepper black ground
4 cups of onion yellow diced
1 cups of sugar brown
1 cups of vinegar
2 TBSP of garlic minced
1 cups of vegetable oil

Method

In a large round pot, sautee onion and garlic for 3 minutes, add sugar, vinegar and coconut milk. Mix well.
Slowly add the turnips and spinach and fold in into the sauce, season, then lower heat to a simmer for 40 minutes.

Fresh Fruit Salad With Vanilla Whipped Cream Cheese

5 EA of cocktail fruit drained #10 can
10 cups of vanilla yogurt
10 cups of diced mango
10 cups of Loose red grapes
5 cups of strawberries frozen sliced

Method

Transfer the syrup from fruit cans into a sauce pan and reduce on low heat until syrup consistency. Cool down.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and fold gently until well coated.

Activities for the Port of Call

Each month, the affiliated Life Enrichment departments who choose to participate will create fun games and activities based on the culture of each chosen city or country. Here are some of the creative ideas that our affiliated team members are planning to host based on the Ivory Coast! Please note that these activity lists are not final and that they are subject to change.

Spruce Manor

The residents at Spruce Manor are going to try a popular African dish from the region called Alloco & Claclo. It is slices of fried plantains and a delicious slightly toned-down version of the sauce, which is made from chilis and onions. They are going to add the Port of Abidjan Cote D'Ivoire flag to their passports along with some information about the area. While the residents enjoy their treat, they will watch an African soccer match. In the evening, the residents will take a virtual tour of the Port of Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire and listen to the facts and trivia about the port while enjoying music from the area.

Rocky Mount Health and Rehab

Rocky Mount is doing African masks for arts & crafts, as well as enjoying traditional African music with exercise. They will also have lots of trivia and fun facts about Africa.

Midtown Oaks

In Midtown Oak’s cooking club, they will be making puff puffs, chocolate malvo pudding, and yam chips. In the art clubs, they will be making hand drums, African tribal masks, and pasta necklaces. The exercise groups will be exercising to traditional African music.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

Commitment + Clinical Leadership = Better Outcomes