YOUR BAAB OF JANUARY 2026

January 2026 Monthly Free #130

JANUARY 2026 #130

A magazine, a website, a community

Fill up on Babi energies !

2026: Stars and Wishes!

We’re gently approaching the home stretch of 2025... so we breathe, we smile, and we prepare to jump feet first into 2026!

A year that we hope is simple, sincere, luminous, with just the right amount of challenges to boost us and enough lightness to do us good. May 2026 bring you love, health, projects that awaken, teeming ideas, and encounters that make you grow!

At BAAB, we always keep the same desire: to accompany you, surprise you, inspire you, and offer you the best of ourselves throughout the year. We have wishes full in our pockets: sweet, funny, realistic, a bit crazy, totally assumed... and footballistic too! After all, reaching for the stars would be a very good program to start this year!

The entire BAAB team wishes you a sparkling year and will take a little break before returning in full form in February..

In the meantime: enjoy, celebrate, love. That’s the real magic of year-ends.

Managing Director and Publisher : Alice Andrieux Editor-in-Chief : A. Kouadio Editorial Secretary General : Gobou Y. F. Editorial Manager : Anne-Claire Lecouls Digital and Partnerships Manager : Sylvain Andrieux Graphic Design Department Manager : Koimé N’Goran A. Printing : Graphicolor BAAB Magazine published by BAAB EDITIONS SARL with capital of 5,000,000 FCFA - Legal Representative : Alice Kouadio Legal deposit : 11487 du 22/09/2014 - Advertising agency BAAB EDITIONS - CSP approval : REG.PRE-N°139/2024/CSP The reproduction, even partial, of articles, texts, photos and illustrations is forbidden and is the property of BAAB EDITIONS under penalty of prosecution.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

JANUARY 2026

COMMUNICATE OR ADVERTISE IN BAAB MAGAZINE, IT’S AS EASY AS SCANNING A QR CODE.

Loisirs

BRUNCHES IN FESTIVAL!

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CULTURAL NEWS

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ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AND OLD

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ESCAPE & DISCOVERY

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V-11353/CSP/D/25 C’est pour tout le monde, surtout pour moi.

Pour plus d’infos pispi.bceao.int

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s e n i b a a B BRUNCHES IN FESTIVAL!

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BRUNCHES IN FESTIVAL! CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S WILL BE GOURMAND

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f you have a heart for the party and the desire to put your feet under the table on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, why not opt for a brunch? The occasion to get together as a family to extend the gourmet celebrations while offloading the logistics: an option that we validate! Here are 5 addresses in Abidjan.

Up to you to choose the version you prefer!

When the turkey, seafood, lobster, champagne, and yule logs get cozy with the brunch essentials! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THE TRADITIONAL: AZALAÏ HÔTEL ABIDJAN Celebrate New Year’s with your loved ones during a wonderful brunch highlighting flavors from here and elsewhere as well as exceptional products cooked by the Chefs of the Le Banco restaurant or the Jardin Suspendu. You are assured to savor and to start the year under the best auspices!

New Year’s Brunch January 1, 2026 from 12pm.

45,000 FCFA/adult and 15,000 FCFA/child.

Reservations : 07 59 94 19 91 10

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THE PANORAMIC: NOOM HOTEL ABIDJAN PLATEAU As every year, the Noom Hôtel Abidjan Plateau pulls out all the stops to concoct an unforgettable holiday season for us. True to its reputation for excellence, this unmissable establishment of the Plateau welcomes you for the holidays in its 2 restaurants, Le Boulevard, with elegant decoration and warm tones, and the Ayoka, with a refined and contemporary atmosphere. From the 21st floor of the hotel, you can also enjoy a breathtaking view over the entire city of Abidjan.

For Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, these 2 restaurants forget none of the classics that make a successful holiday brunch: champagne, cocktails, music (), games and animations for children (workshops, bouncy castle, Santa Claus, face painting) and above all generous buffets… we’re already salivating!

Christmas Brunches December 25, 2025 at 12:30pm.

Le Boulevard: 50,000 FCFA/pers. with glass of champagne or cocktail, 25,000 FCFA/ child (6 to 12 years).

Ayoka: 60,000 FCFA/pers. with glass of champagne or cocktail, 30,000 FCFA/child (6 to 12 years).

New Year’s Brunches January 1, 2026 at 12:30pm.

Le Boulevard: 50,000 FCFA/pers. with cocktail, 30,000 FCFA/child (6 to 12 years).

Ayoka: 60,000 FCFA/pers. with cocktail, 30,000 FCFA/child (6 to 12 years).

Reservations : 05 76 99 98 48 11

BAABINES

THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY: SEEN HOTEL ABIDJAN PLATEAU The brunches of December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 at Seen Hotel Abidjan Plateau are going to be sparkling… with gourmet delights! On the program, a florets of Ivorian and international dishes to savor in the cozy and elegant setting of the establishment, musical ambiance, bubbles, animations and Santa Claus in person, who will be a hit, that’s for sure!

Christmas Brunch December 25, 2025 from 12pm to 4pm.

35,000 FCFA/adult and 15,000 FCFA/ child. Unlimited non-alcoholic cocktails, appetizers-main courses-desserts-BBQ, pastry workshop, coloring workshop, presence of Santa Claus and clowns.

Akwaba 2026 Brunch January 1, 2026 from 12pm to 4pm.

35,000 FCFA/adult and 15,000 FCFA/child.

2 glasses of bubbles and soft drinks included.

Reservations : 05 76 99 98 98

THE SOPHISTICATED: PALAIS WIA This superb residence converted into a majestic boutique hotel invites you to plunge into the must of Ivorian refinement and hospitality. Even more true during the end-of-year holidays since the Palais Wia, adorned in its finest attire, offers you a program as gourmet as it is refined notably 2 brunches (December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026) that you will remember. Magic assured.

60,000 FCFA/adult (13 years and up).

Reservations : 05 44 04 38 38 12

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BAABINES THE ESSENTIALS: SOFITEL ABIDJAN HÔTEL IVOIRE

The holiday season is open at Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire and it promises to be fabulous!

The hotel announces a magical program around dinners and the traditional gourmet brunches where you will have pleasure to get together as a family to celebrate the last moments of the year and welcome the next in a universe of fairy tale and exquisite flavors.

Christmas Brunch, December 25, 2025 at 12:30pm in the hotel gardens.

Festive buffet blending French and African flavors. 60,000 FCFA/person with glass of champagne, live music, pool access, Santa Claus, games and workshops for children.

New Year’s Brunches, January 1, 2026 at 12:30pm in the hotel gardens.

Garden party around the pool. 60,000 FCFA/ person with glass of champagne, live music, pool access, games and workshops for children.

Reservations : 07 87 93 17 23 16

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BAABINES

LE CHOCOLAT DANS TOUTE SON EXTRAVAGANCE AN EXHIBITION TO LICK YOUR FINGERS OVER!

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resented by Destination Chocolat and orchestrated by Ivorian entrepreneur Laetitia Yobouet, this unmissable event of the festive season transforms Abidjan into a true cocoa showcase for the third time, where endof-year traditions and chocolate creativity blend in a magical atmosphere. This year, the exhibition unfolds simultaneously across three venues: the Pullman Hotel, the Seen Hotel, and the Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau, offering three complementary atmospheres to celebrate the art of chocolate.

Until December 28, 2025, visitors will be immersed in a world where cocoa becomes a dream, a taste, a discovery, and a feeling.

Over twenty artisans, chocolatiers, creators, and processors will unveil creations as bold as they are delicious. Chocolate champagne, chocolate chips, crunchy cocoa bean-coated treats, reimagined nougatines, caramelized attiéké chocolate, 100% cocoa, black or milk chocolate with unexpected textures… Each stand promises a new experience and a rediscovery of African cocoa in its most modern forms.

Chocolat attiéké, champagne au chocolat, croustilles de fèves de cacao… Abidjan va sentir le chocolat ! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LE CHOCOLAT DANS TOUTE SON EXTRAVAGANCE Until December 28, 2025 Pullman Hotel, Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau, and Seen Hotel. destination_chocolat_ 18

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True to its mission, Destination Chocolat highlights sustainable cocoa and African artisanal genius. The event showcases local players, encourages responsible supply chains, and creates a space for exchange where professionals, enthusiasts, and the curious can meet, learn, and forge partnerships.

Through this more ambitious and prestigious edition than ever, Laetitia Yobouet reminds us of the importance of supporting artisans, promoting local cocoa processing, and celebrating a know-how that is a source of national pride. This month, Abidjan will have an irresistible scent: that of chocolate in all its extravagance.

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BYNIGHT

WÊRÊ KLUB

DECEMBER WILL BE BOILING!

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n December, Wêrê Klub sets up its suitcases at Villa Colomb and transforms the place into a true living artistic laboratory. One to two times per week, the collective alternates between scorching evenings and chill moments by the pool, creating a hybrid space where people come as much to dance as to breathe. A space to have fun, free oneself, create, meet, learn and above all, tear down the walls between scenes, disciplines, and worlds. Here, the city enters and circulates. Welcome to the Wêrê House!

This month, Wêrê Klub settles at Villa Colomb. Exchanges, chill time, and racket guaranteed! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Conceived as a one-month artistic residency, this initiative is carried by the Wêrê Klub collective, founded by Noémie and Lucie, known behind the decks under the names Soumia and Laissonsluciefaire.

Active for several years on the Ivorian scene, the two DJs defend an open and inclusive vision of club culture, where music dialogues with visual arts, transmission, and encounter.

Surrounded by a creative team they consider the big family of Wêrê Klub, they have already marked key places on the Abidjan cultural scene (Something Art 22

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Space, Gasóleo, MuCAT). Their approach is not limited to the decks: DJ classes, conferences, artistic installations complement their plural and committed practice.

It is in this dynamic that the collective takes over Villa Colomb with a programming that finds its marks as much by day as by night.

On the program: collaborations with music figures like Paulo Chakal, crossings with visual artists and creative platforms such as Archive Ivoire, and constant attention to exchange and transmission. In December, Ivorian emulsion is ready to overflow. To miss nothing, follow Wêrê Klub on Instagram and TikTok! You won’t regret it. wereklub More great deals on

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BYNIGHT

MATCH NIGHT

WHERE TO WATCH THE AFCON 2025?

AFCON 2025 is coming… and all of Abidjan is looking for the perfect spot to thrill with the Elephants! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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t’s here, the countdown has started! AFCON 2025 kicks off on December 21, and Côte d’Ivoire is preparing to defend its title. Three first matches, three red dates on all calendars: December 24 against Mozambique, December 28 against Cameroon, and December 31 against Gabon. Impossible to miss them.

Everywhere, people are organizing. The maquis have brought out giant screens, the bars their sound systems, the hotels are preparing special evenings... Everything is ready. Because here, when the Elephants play, the city dresses in OBV colors and stops breathing. So, where to follow these first clashes and live every minute as if you were in Morocco? Hot atmosphere, shouts of joy, adrenaline: get ready, AFCON really begins.

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Our selection: Ibis Style Plateau 07 79 01 27 77 Maquis CAN Noom Hotel Abidjan Plateau The match in majesty at Boca Chica and Foot & Sunset at Laguna Bar 05 76 99 98 48 L’équipe Riviera M’Badon

07 58 29 12 58

Le Bar et Vous Zone 4, bd Yacé

07 07 17 92 01

Novotel Abidjan Marcory Fan Zone at Liva Pool Bar Kokoma Onomo Hotel Abidjan Airport The Rooph Matches and BBQ Riviera Bonoumin More great deals on

07 07 14 33 83 07 79 63 02 78

07 07 70 10 10 baab.ci

BYNIGHT

GASÓLEO AND BLAZ’IN

YOUR UNMISSABLE HQ TO LIVE AFCON 2025!

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ocated high above the Superkart circuit, Gasóleo offers three distinct spaces: the terrace, the lounge, and the nightclub for a unique atmosphere at every match! A giant screen over 12 meters will be installed there to plunge you into the heart of the competition from start to finish. And for the good livers, enjoy skewer + beer combos, perfect to accompany your football evenings!

Just below, at Superkart, Blaz’In welcomes you with its incredibly good burgers, on special offer throughout AFCON. Thanks to the numerous screens scattered throughout the establishment, live every match in an immersive atmosphere while tasting their burger + drink combos, designed to enhance your match evenings.

LA CAN AU GASÓLEO ET BLAZ’IN From December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 Zone 3, rue de la Victoire 05 85 26 34 34 / 05 85 26 35 35

Live AFCON big, between giant screens, explosive vibes, and good food, all at the same address! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Choose the formula!

Combo Offer: 3 mixed skewers + alloco + 1 soft or 1 beer for 10,000 FCFA Blaz’In Combo: 1 chicken or meat burger + fries + 1 soft or beer for 10,000 FCFA 25

BYNIGHT

DECEMBER PARTIES

LET’S PARTY AS WE WAIT FOR 2026!

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ith 2025 in its final days, it’s high time to have some fun! To end the year in style, here’s our selection of parties, mega shows, and New Year’s Eve celebrations… A festive and colorful program to keep you partying until dawn and welcome the New Year as it deserves!

GLOBAL WARMING, CITY HEAT December 20, 2025 at 10 PM The RooPh, Riviera Bonoumin Hip-Hop and R&B night with DJ Soon 07 07 10 10 10

THUNDER TOUR December 21, 2025 Rex Night Club, 2 Plateaux Line-up: Mario Salazar, DJs Tabaco, Vogis, Sams, and Jissey 07 78 87 68 56

THE SUNRISE CLUB December 20, 2025 at 11 PM Akoula Art Plage, Assinie Pk 11 Concerts and party with Nic Merheb, Talal, and Meryl 07 15 00 00 23

December 26, 2025 Soho Abidjan, 2 Plateaux Line-up: La voix du payia, DJs Yseesg, Kenos, Sams, and Jissey 07 59 50 49 46

LA SUNDAY December 21, 2025 Gasóleo, Zone 4 Line-up by the La Sunday team Tickets at www.lehub.online

TRAP WINTER December 23, 2025 at Bløøm December 28, 2025 at Rex Night Club Clubbing night by la Traphouse 225 latraphouse225

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TOP RAPHIA 12 December 26, 2025 at 9 PM 5e Avenue Discothèque, Riviera 2 Retro party by DJ Marcko 07 08 21 18 97 AMAPIANO DRINK December 27, 2025 at 7 PM Toumodi, Villa Blanche Sets Amapiano x Afrobeat 07 67 15 73 27 BORO DE DJAOULI December 28, 2025 at 10 PM Gasóleo, Zone 4 Line-up: DJs Daddy Chulo, Jojo Sk, Mask On, Seny.D, Naomi Yasmine, and Spice & Curls sixtionevents MOTHER FESTIVAL December 27 & 28, 2025 Marcory, Zone 4 motherafricafestival TRAPPY NEW YEAR December 31, 2025 at 11 PM Assinie, Pk 18,5 Clubbing night by la Traphouse 225 07 68 68 78 93 NEW YEAR’S EVE 2025 December 31, 2025 at 8 PM Ivoire Golf Club With Kitoko live and DJ Alex Funk 01 40 00 15 90 NIRVANA December 31, 2025 La Maison d’Akoula, Assinie nirvanaabj@gmail.com SOHO TO JAMAICA January 4, 2026 at 10 PM Soho Abidjan, 2 Plateaux Sets by DJs Blossbee, Mahaad, and Yseesg 01 02 97 67 27 27

BYNIGHT

TRINITY

YOUR END-OF-YEAR APPOINTMENT!

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orn in Abidjan in 2021, Trinity is a musical collective led by Nader Beydoun, Sami Moukarzel, and Jordan Hammoud. Since its inception, the group has established itself as one of the ambassadors of the electronic and afro house scene in the heart of the Ivorian capital. Over the years, they have shared the stage with several major figures such as Francis Mercier, Mr Raoul K, Asna, Dead-tones, and Aline Brooklyn, confirming their place in the local music landscape.

To close out the year in style, Trinity is organizing a final event that promises to be memorable: electronic music, beach, and sunny atmosphere. At the helm of the event is the talented Rosey Gold, a rising star of the South African scene, surrounded by artists such as Kwakumela, Flops, Sami, Bass Halal, Cam, Daryl, and the Trinity Family. A unique evening not to be missed!

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TRINITY December 31, 2025 at 11 PM Assinie Pk 4,5 Tickets at www.lehub.online or on site

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BYNIGHT

END-OF-YEAR CONCERTS

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he end of the year is fast approaching, and with it comes a host of evenings, shows, and musical events to properly close out 2025. And there are plenty of concerts in December! So, to not miss the performances of your favorite artists, here’s BAAB’s roundup. Hurry up and book… tickets are selling fast!

Fally Ipupa

Sidiki Diabaté

Kajeem

December 25 & 26, 2025 at Parc des Expositions 07 48 00 00 49

December 26, 2025 at 5 PM at Parc des Expositions 07 97 13 48 61

December 27, 2025 at 9 PM at AZK Live 01 43 80 38 19

Roseline Layo

Himra

Luidji

December 28, 2025 at 1 PM at Stade Champroux 07 77 18 07 26

December 30 & 31, 2025 at Parc des Expositions

January 16, 2026 at 7 PM at Palais de la Culture Tickets at lehub.online

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IN YOUR GALLERIES!

BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITIONS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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« MÉMOIRE »

hrough his collages, Georges Arthur Kablan Coffi shakes up, questions, and sublimates the very essence of our identity.

By deconstructing images, words, and colors, the artist creates new perspectives, inviting each person to feel, reflect, and reconnect deeply. Until January 4, 2026 at Onomo Hotel Abidjan Airport.

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« TRAVERSER »

hrough a singular pictorial writing, the artist Dagnogo stages bodies that cross, extend, and traverse each other, revealing the deep bonds that unite individuals. Each thick, sinuous black line circulates like a guiding thread between beings, while the vivid and saturated colors carry an almost spiritual energy. Until January 4, 2026 at Galerie Tetchi (Riviera CIAD).

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« TEINTES D’IDENTITÉ »

Akan, 2025, Karen Kouamé

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photographic series by Ivorian artist Karen Kouamé who draws her inspiration from the cultural diversity of Côte d’Ivoire. In a country with more than sixty ethnic groups, where traditions, languages, and symbols mingle, identity is built like a living mosaic. Through this series, Karen Kouamé transforms the idea of “identity photo” into a powerful artistic medium, going beyond simple formal representation to celebrate Ivorian cultural richness.

Each portrait highlights a singularity, an heritage, or a traditional element, becoming thus a tool for valorization and preservation of cultures sometimes threatened by modernity. The project pays homage to human beauty and diversity, while reminding the importance of collective memory. Karen Kouamé’s work fits into a personal and profound exploration of African identity, between heritage, resilience, and transmission. From January 16 to 31, 2026 at Labaraque (Riviera Jardins).

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« LIGNES CROISÉES »

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his exhibition brings together works by two Lebanese artists, Lina Husseini and Reda Yazback, in a setting where painting and sculpture engage in close dialogue.

Reda Yazback, a painter of the single gesture, explores emotion, identity, and human relationships through abstract faces, continuous lines, and deliberately distorted anatomy. His research aims to preserve a near-childlike creative freedom, where color becomes emotion and line a tool to grasp the intangible.

Each canvas begins with a clear intention,

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while the process remains open and spontaneous.

Opposite him, Lina Husseini, a pioneer in the use of PVC in contemporary art, creates volumes directly on the wall. Her work questions social and emotional dynamics, inviting viewers to project their own interpretations. Inspired by her cultural heritage, she transforms industrial materials into hybrid, sensitive forms, proposing new ways of understanding human connections and boundaries. Until January 4, 2026, at Walls House of Art (Zone 4).

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« MÉTAMORPHOSES »

vorian artist Claudi e Titty Dimbeng offers an intimate journey celebrating transformation in all its forms. Conceived after a residency at INSAAC, the exhibition explores metamorphosis as an identity-based and spiritual quest, marking a major stage in the artist’s trajectory where heritage, innovation, and light converge.

Inspired by Akan spirituality and the legacy of the Vohou-Vohou movement, Claudie Titty Dimbeng deploys her Mixed Art Relief technique, combining tapa, raffia, plasters, and natural pigments to create material landscapes evoking a path of selfreclamation.

The exhibition is structured around three axes: works celebrating the sacred feminine; portraits of imaginary ancestors created using digital negative techniques; and a series of performative photographs produced with her husband, Alain Titty Dimbeng. These powerful and meditative pieces pay tribute to memory and generational continuity. Until January 17, 2026, at LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery (Cocody).

©Dimbeng 2

©Dimbeng 1

©Dimbeng 3

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« UNIVERS MÊLÉS »

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his exhibition brings together three artists whose distinct approaches converge toward a shared quest: making the invisible visible and giving form to deep emotions.

Emmanuel Lekryst conceives creation as an essential refuge. By exploring the paracosm—a mental and symbolic territory—he expresses ideas, inner conflicts, and spiritual dimensions through a visual language oriented toward the intangible.

Massa Diomandé - Alter ego, 130x130 cm, technique mixte, 2025.

Massa Diomandé seeks to reveal the spiritual essence of his characters. Inspired by his dreams and the luminous visions of a deceased uncle, he questions transcendence and the invisible presence that connects beings. Each sign in his works carries a precise meaning.

Pierre-Aimé Youan transforms his daily experiences into pictorial material. His canvases become outlets, emotional memory, and raw expressions of the lived moment.

Together, their works create a harmonious dialogue between visible and hidden worlds, questioning the mysteries that shape life. Until December 27, 2025, at Labaraque (Riviera Jardins).

La quête d’ablèba -Emmanuel Lekryst

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Âme d’enfants - Pierre-Aimé Youan

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« SOUFFLE »

permanent exhibition at the Maison de l’Art de Grand-Bassam, Souffle brings together works by twenty-eight contemporary artists from nine African countries. Together, they testify to the continent’s creative vitality, where excellence, innovation, and artistic renewal meet. Painting, sculpture, photography, and furniture design are each reinvented to offer a fresh reading of reality and African heritage.

The exhibition unfolds across several complementary spaces. Inspiration celebrates contemporary masters such as Ouattara Watts, Ablade Glover, Jems Koko Bi, Aïda Muluneh, and Sess Essoh, whose works have shaped major aesthetic evolutions.

Dreams and Creations highlights the younger generation—Laeticia Ky, Joana Choumali, Mederic Turay, Yéanzi, and Ange Dakouo—carrying bold and daring energy. The Pavilion hosts temporary exhibitions and collaborations, while galleries, an artistic garden, and an artist residency form a vibrant place dedicated to dialogue, experimentation, and sharing.

Joana Choumali, Abondance, série Albahian, 2024

Aida Muluneh, THE 99 SERIES – PART THREE, 2018 Photographie 80 x 80 cm.

Until May 2026, at the Maison de l’Art (Grand-Bassam).

Ouattara Watts, Intercessor #1, 2022

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« LIBERTÉ FORM’ELLES »

isual artist Soro Pehah, known for his refined, precise style and carefully crafted color interplay, transports viewers into a vibrant and emotionally rich universe.

In December, at the Couloir des Arts of Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire (Cocody).

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« TGNÔN »

rtist Prohouly unveils his art-toy project presented alongside new pictorial works and in collaboration with Maison Jean-Marie. Each Tgnôn embodies the spirit of one who searches, progresses, works, and represents the inner strength that drives everyone forward. December 2025, at La Maison Jean-Marie (Diamond Center).

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« MOSAÏQUE VIVANTE »

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ne exposition regroupant le travail des artistes qui ont marqué la galerie durant l’année 2025 : Tamsir Dia, Salif Diabagaté, Laka, Jean Daniel Rohrer, Yasuko Okamoto et Sess Essoh. Jusqu’à fin décembre 2025 à la galerie Eureka (Zone 4).

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« LATIFA ALAJLAN »

he first solo exhibition of Latifa Alajlan draws on Kuwaiti cultural heritage to explore patterns, architecture, and gesture.

Her lattice underlayers and expressive impasto evoke iconic Middle Eastern structures. Rooted in the regional tradition of abstraction, her work creates atmospheric compositions where recognizable forms and free movements intertwine, questioning notions of order, perception, and the relationship between structure and sensation. January 2026, at Galerie Farah Fakhri (Plateau).

Latifa Alajlan, When the Sky Touched the Ground, 2025

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« LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN »

Troy Makaza, Divine Feast, 2025

Troy makaza, leave the door open, 2025

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his first solo exhibition by Troy Makaza, created following his residency in Abidjan, presents a body of work fueled by the energy and vibrant palette of the Ivorian city. The artist revisits key patriotic moments in Zimbabwe’s history, drawing parallels between the nation’s journey and that of its citizens.

To unite painting and sculpture, Makaza developed his own medium: pigmented silicone that he pours, paints, weaves, or knots, giving rise to glossy, tactile, and deeply

Troy Makaza, Leave the door open, 2025

expressive wall pieces. His practice does not seek to illustrate, but to reveal tensions, passages, and thresholds where personal, urban, and spiritual histories unfold.

In Leave the Door Open, he explores a more intimate realm inhabited by spiritual presences and affective symbols. Seeds, petals, and protective halos compose a network of energies oscillating between gentleness, threat, and a deliberately unstable balance. Until January 7, 2026, at Galerie Farah Fakhri (Plateau).

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« LES TISSERANDES DU VISIBLE »

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s part of the 3rd edition of Écrin d’Art, Galerie Kynome invites you to an artistic encounter where the worlds of artists Adjoua Kouamé, Rosey Mena Boka, Youdy, Flora Goli, So, Regina, and Arlette Vandeneycken intertwine. A portion of the sales will be donated to the AIFCI. Until January 10, 2026, at the Jules Verne International School (Riviera).

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« MURMURES D’ARCHIVES : SUR LES TRACES DE HANS HIMMELHEBER »

major exhibition celebrating the work of German ethnologist, art dealer, and collector Hans Himmelheber. Between 1933 and 1976, this scholar traveled across Africa, collecting artworks and documenting his research through photographs, recordings, and films. Until March 8, 2026, at the MuCAT (Abobo).

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« LE SEUIL DE NOS AZURS »

François Xavier Gbré, L’épave, 2021

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group exhibition bringing together Assoukrou Aké, Jess Atieno, Thibaut Bouedjoro-Camus, Eva Diallo, François-Xavier Gbré, Yo-Yo Gonthier, Fanny Irina, Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Marie-Claire Messouma Manlanbien, Rachel Marsil, and Cheikh Ndiaye. The exhibition explores the encounter between the social and the natural being, using azure—sky, air, or water—as a symbol of serenity, hope, and purity, carrying values of sharing and solidarity. Until January 24, 2026, at Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Cocody).

Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Là où notre liberté commence, 2024

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Thibaut Bouedjoro-Camus, Le songe de Catherine, 2022.

Détrempe et huile sur toile, 200 x 250 x 3,5 cm. Courtesy of Galerie Cécile Fakhoury - Abidjan / Dakar / Paris.

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By IFCI

BRILLANTISSIM’ UPCYCLING STUDIO 4 UNVEILS A COLLECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CREATION AT IFCI

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rom January 29 to February 19, 2026, the Institut français de Côte d’Ivoire will host Brillantissim’ Upcycling, the new exhibition carried by Studio 4, an emerging and committed player in sustainable fashion in Côte d’Ivoire. More than an exhibition, it’s a living process, fueled by several weeks of workshops, meetings, and experiments conducted with students, participants, and young creators. hand clothing that flood the markets, the famous yougou yougou, can become a resource rather than a problem. Studio 4 thus proposes an upcycling approach that valorizes textile reuse and encourages responsible fashion in Côte d’Ivoire. By working these clothes like raw material, creators find new textures, silhouettes, and stories. This approach is also rooted in the valorization of Ivorian artisanal knowhow, integrated into the project through collaboration with artisans and young creators.

Upcycling on display! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Created in 2023 with the support of the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI), Studio 4 is an Economic Interest Group that brings together artisans, creators, and textile professionals around a common goal: develop sustainable, collaborative Ivorian fashion turned toward the future. Their activity revolves around a production workshop capable of realizing medium and large series, and a consulting firm that supports brands in their collections, material choices, and creative directions.

At the heart of Brillantissim’ Upcycling, a strong conviction: the surpluses of second54

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Before being presented at IFCI, the artistic proposal of the exhibition will mature through a series of workshops and handson sessions that will allow exploring upcycling in all its forms. The works produced as well as the human experience linked to these encounters will directly feed into the exhibition’s content.

The overall vision of the project is carried by designer and sociologist Vincent Esclade, specialist in upcycling and the social dimensions of clothing. His international perspective will give the exhibition a strong aesthetic coherence, while valorizing the collective work carried out in Côte d’Ivoire. Throughout the event, the public will be able to participate in customization workshops for their own clothes. Beyond an exhibition, it’s an experience to live.

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CULTURE

IBHM 2026

CINEMA, A MEMORY TO SAVE

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n Ivory Coast, cinema is much more than simple entertainment: it’s a mirror of society, a living archive, a heritage in motion. Yet, this total art, which combines literature, music, dance, and visual arts, struggles to establish itself as an accessible and preserved collective memory. Faced with this reality, the Ivoire Black History Month (IBHM), a cultural and civic initiative, dedicates its 7th edition in 2026 to the patrimonialization of Ivorian cinema. The stakes are high: preserve, understand, show, and transmit a cinematographic heritage threatened by oblivion, before it disappears forever.

The observation is alarming: Côte d’Ivoire has neither a unified film catalog nor a solid system for conservation or digitization. Past works are scattered, sometimes damaged or unfindable, often kept in private collections or fragile copies. This absence of heritage policy jeopardizes the continuity of Ivorian cinema, preventing younger generations from accessing their cultural and visual references.

Bring together artists, institutions, and communities around a common project: make Ivorian cinema a living, accessible, and transmitted heritage. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> IBHM 2026 58

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It is in this context that the 2026 theme, “Patrimonialization of Cinema: Between Cinema and Heritage, a Single Fight for Memory,” takes on full meaning. It involves questioning the film as a historical document, valorizing filming locations, training a new generation of critics, archivists, and filmmakers capable of carrying this fight.

IBHM aims to create a national movement around the safeguarding of Ivorian cinema, by documenting its works, facilitating their accessibility, and raising youth awareness of the value of this total art.

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The 2026 edition is structured around an ambitious program: conferences, training, rural screenings, children’s workshops, creation residencies, immersions in heritage sites, and celebrations of major figures in national cinema. Through this approach, IBHM affirms that filmic memory is not a luxury, but a necessity to build a sustainable, critical cinema aware of its roots.

IBHM 2026 PROGRAM January 24, 2026, Majestic Sococé cinema: Inaugural conference on the history of Ivorian cinema followed by a discussion with professionals and ambassadors.

January 31, 2026, MuCAT: IBHM Kids, initiation workshops to writing, costume, and cinema professions.

January-February 2026, Abidjan, Bouaké, Katiola: Traveling cinema February 10, 2026, Institut français: Culture Lover, training in cinema professions February 7 and 8, 2026, M’Brago: O’Village Immersion on the filming location of Ablakon.

February 14, 2026, Centre Jacques AKA, Bouaké: Closing ceremony, screening of the film Night of the Kings, and tribute to major figures of Ivorian cinema.

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CULTURE LE BEST-OFF DU MOIS LA PIQÛRE APPREND LE FRANÇAIS - PALM CLUB HOTEL HUMOR Jenny Sans Frein, La Piqûre, shares the stage with her teacher Ynous, who isn’t the most gifted, but the most motivated! And his lessons are a bit special… Guaranteed laughs!

December 20, 2025 at 7pm at Palm Club Hotel 07 79 75 36 14

TRIBUTE TO SADE LA NOTE BLEUE

LIVE EVENING The 2nd edition of SLIMSA pays homage to the soul icon Sade, reprising the greatest hits of her career with the La Note Bleue orchestra and singer Miss Guiyoro.

December 23, 2025 at 6pm at La Note Bleue Tickets on www.lehub.online

DÉCOUV’RIRE - LES P’TITS FUTÉS COMEDY CLUB Fifi de Tchoukouni, Koffi Dagla, Ange Boris, Nejy, C’katcha, and Guyzo invite you to the 3rd session of your new comedy club. Jokes, punchlines, good vibes, and lots of laughs for a guaranteed relaxation moment!

January 3, 2026 at 7pm at Les P’tits Futés Tickets on www.lehub.online 62

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GONDWANA CLUB PULLMAN HÔTEL

HUMOR SHOW Abidjan’s first comedy club offering shows mixing the most famous humorists with the rising young scene.

January 9, 2026 at 9pm at Pullman Hôtel Abidjan 05 04 00 66 66

LES CHAINES INVISIBLES LA FABRIQUE CULTURELLE

THEATER This show is a cry from the heart, an urgent invitation addressed to African peoples to open their eyes to the modern forms of domination imposed on them.

In this vibrant monologue, a griot, poet, songwriter, guardian of memory stands up to call out, recount, and awaken.

January 9, 2026 at 8pm at La Fabrique Culturelle Tickets on www.lehub.online

COCKTAIL DE DANSES TRADITIONNELLES LA FABRIQUE CULTURELLE

DANCE Dive into the heart of Côte d’Ivoire with Afrik Art Dance! On stage, a festival of rhythms, colors, and movements transports you through the festivals and celebrations of Ivorian peoples, revealing an incomparable sense of welcome unique to the country.

January 16, 2026 at 8pm at La Fabrique Culturelle Tickets on www.lehub.online 63

Nous contacter au +225 07 98 06 57 64 / 07 77 62 22 27

CULTURE

CINEMA AT IFCI

LA VOIX DE HIND RAJAB

by Kaouther Ben Hania.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 7 PM.

SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ÉTAT by Johan Grimonprez.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7 PM.

Plateau, av. Franchet d’Esperey 27 20 20 40 60 Institut Français de Côte d’Ivoire institutfrançais.ci

To find out dates and times subscribe to the IFCI WhatsApp channel on 07 08 81 06 68.

Admission : 3,000 FCFA ; reduced admission : 2,000 FCFA (library members, under-18s and students under-30s).

PROMIS LE CIEL by Erige Sehiri.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 7 PM. 66

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ALLAH N’EST PAS OBLIGÉ

by Zaven Najjar. Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 7 PM.

s r i s i o L

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ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AND OLD

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LOISIRS

STARS IN THEIR EYES! CHRISTMAS FAMILY OUTINGS

Gather your family and enjoy the magic of Christmas together! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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e countdown to December 25th has begun! Ten long days until Santa’s much-awaited visit! To get into the spirit and wait cheerfully until the big day, here’s our selection of family outings. Shows, games, magic, and a touch of gourmet delight will make the eyes of young and old sparkle. We love this idea. What about you?

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Fantasy Land Babi

Dive into the magic of Christmas and the wonderful worlds of childhood! Stunning decorations, mascots, workshops, shows, face painting, rides… in short, magic everywhere for unforgettable memories!

From December 19 to 29, 2025 in the garden of Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire.

07 07 11 65 65.

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Christmas Workshops for Little Hands!

Santa and his elves have parked their sleighs at Ivoire Trade Center, Prima, or Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire! With them, expect lots of magic and a packed activity program: face painting, Christmas crafts, games, chocolate… everything is ready to amaze the children!

Christmas Kids Zone at ITC ( ivoire_trade_ center), Kids Zone at Prima Center Marcory ( 07 00 35 00 36), Chocolate and painting experience at Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire on December 20, 2025 at 11 AM ( 07 87 93 17 23).

Christmas Brunch at Paradisia Santa arriving by helicopter, a magnificent buffet, unlimited rides, and gifts… don’t miss the Christmas brunch at Paradisia. A funfilled time and beautiful memories to share!

December 25, 2025 at Paradisia, Riviera 07 57 67 04 74.

M’Badon.

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LOISIRS

Ciné Kids: “Bob L’Éponge”

Kids, come and discover the new adventures of your favorite hero at a special preview just for you! A half-day of fun activities, popcorn, and the movie screening. December 27, 2025 at Majestic Ivoire and Ficgayo cinemas.

Christmas in Chorus

The Bel Canto Côte d’Ivoire ensemble invites you to an evening filled with Christmas carols and warm holiday cheer. A live concert, treats, a traditional market… and the magic happens! December 20, 2025 at 7 PM at Ibis Style Plateau.

07 89 51 29 24.

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Christmas Snack at Azalaï Hotel

Treats, juices, cotton candy, activities (pool, giant trampoline, inflatable castle)… the Christmas snack is a must for children, full of sharing, magic, and gourmet delights.

December 25, 2025 at Oasis Bar, Azalaï Hotel.

07 59 94 19 91.

Show: «Simba and the Forest!»

Pure joy for young and old as you follow the adventures of the famous Lion King!

Laughter, wonder, and magic for an unforgettable afternoon. December 21, 2025 at 5 PM at Palais de la Culture.

05 76 84 10 10.

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LOISIRS

NOËL AU PARC

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rom December 20 to 28, 2025, the Abidjan Exhibition Park transforms into a true enchanted kingdom with Christmas at the Park, a family and festive event imagined by the Tentacules Agency. For eight days, from 9am to midnight, the site dresses in lights, fairy-tale decorations, and animations to offer little ones and big ones alike a Christmas experience like never before.

From the entrance, visitors plunge into a great fully reinvented Christmas village: illuminations, artisan market, rides, gourmet stands, and a fairy-tale universe where music, colors, and festive scents mingle.

Ivorian artisans and creators hold a place of choice there, making the event a living space where local know-how meets holiday magic.

The journey continues with shows, concerts, interactive animations, and even a Santa Claus parade! Children will be able to discover Santa’s House, participate in creative workshops, enjoy the rides, and try their luck at the Great Christmas Raffle.

For the gourmands, numerous dining areas offer dishes, sweets, and drinks to prolong 76

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the pleasure. And because this year in Côte d’Ivoire, Christmas also rhymes with football, the site reserves areas dedicated to broadcasting AFCON matches, to thrill together for the Elephants.

With its stands, games, shows, and surprises, Christmas at the Park plunges the whole family into a universe of sharing, discovery, and wonder that celebrates both Ivorian creativity and the Christmas spirit.

NOËL AU PARC December 20 to 28, 2025 01 53 71 86 68 Stars Pass (5,000 FCFA), Magic Pass (10,000 FCFA), and Rennes Pass (20,000 FCFA) available on www.lehub.online

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LOISIRS

TO PUT UNDER THE TREE!

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ifting books for Christmas is always a good idea! And here are 2 that BAAB wanted to highlight since they are the fruit of the work of 2 of our faithful contributors. You know them well: Marie-Noëlle Fossou and her media Candy Côte d’Ivoire delight you with stories, anecdotes, and documented insights into Côte d’Ivoire’s history, and Amélie N’dia regularly delivers her wise selection of readings for little ones and big ones. Here are their latest works. Happy reading!

AKWABA CHEZ TOI The new romantic comedy by Marie-Noëlle Fossou Between the pearl of the lagoons and Qatar, Kelly and Karl-Emmanuel are living perfect love, pure and complicit, after meeting by the greatest of chances at Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët Boigny international airport.

However, the picture darkens when they discover a troubling secret…

Akwaba chez toi, modern romantic comedy, mixes love, childhood wounds, and repetitive patterns, exploring forgiveness and resilience. This fast-paced story full of twists highlights a generation with its hopes and disillusionments. Punchy language, unforgettable characters, and a dive into Ivorian culture that hits straight to the heart.

Available December 21, 2025. Order on @Akwaba_cheztoi.

Who is the author?

Marie-Noëlle Fossou has always struggled to choose between her multiple passions so she decided to live them all. Digital griot through her media Candy Côte d’Ivoire, creator of the board game Ce Que Presque Personne Ne Sait Sur la Côte d’Ivoire, biology graduate, Marie-Noëlle is an artist who draws inspiration from the eclecticism of her journey to bring her ideas to life. Akwaba chez toi thus marks her debut in the world of fiction, a universe in which she hopes to transport readers, between strong emotions and deep reflections.

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WEEK-END À L’ÉCOLE A tender adventure by Madame Amélie It’s Friday noon, Madame Amélie is at the library with the CE1D students. Today they won’t go home, they will spend a crazy weekend at school. Between parents’ reluctance, children’s excitement, and a sometimes overwhelmed librarian, you will discover a tender and funny story, to read from 6 years old.

Madame Amélie, as the students affectionately call her, is a school librarian.

This name, both close and a bit foreign, gave her the desire to create a character who resembles her while allowing her some distance. Madame Amélie dares what she herself wouldn’t dare, and she hopes this character will give children a taste for reading and loving libraries.

The idea for her novel came directly from the students. One Friday noon, as they were impatient to leave, she jokingly threw out: “What if we all stayed together for the weekend?” Not convinced at first, they got excited as soon as she mentioned snacks, the pool, sports, and above all the possibility of sleeping in the library. In the following days, they kept asking her if she had gotten permission. Aware that this project was unrealizable, she decided to write it!

Upon reading the story, they were first a bit disappointed not to live the adventure, then quickly delighted to find their first

names, even though she had deliberately not modeled the personalities. The book is deeply personal: her “double” is the heroine, the children she loves are present, and it is illustrated by her eldest daughter Emma, under her mother’s artistic gaze. Available for direct sale at 05 64 91 45 40

About the author Amélie N’Dia is the author of two youth novels, Chloé Api and Weekend at School, an Adventure of Madame Amélie, as well as the Cahier du petit lecteur d’Abidjan. You can find her on social media under @madame. amelie.lit on TikTok and YouTube, and “Ateliers Petits Lecteurs d’Abidjan” on Facebook.

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LOISIRS

CRAC : 10 YEARS OF PASSION, TEAM SPIRIT, AND A BIG PARTY COMING UP!

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ince 2015, CRAC has established itself as one of Abidjan’s most dynamic clubs: a place where one plays, certainly, but above all where one builds, transmits, and advances together. Here, the energy is real, the commitment authentic, and every person—player, parent, or volunteer— contributes to growing a club whose ambition and modernity attract more and more followers.

Saturday, January 17, 2026, CRAC opens the doors of Casino Barrière for an anniversary gala that promises to be memorable. An iconic venue, refined cocktail dinner, elegant and warm atmosphere, strong moments, encounters, surprises… this evening is shaping up as the place to be for those who love good vibes, good energy, and good stories.

Beyond the party, it’s also a moment to affirm what CRAC represents: an engaged, proud, and thriving community. Also an opportunity to bring together partners, parents, former and new members around a shared momentum, to support the club’s future and continue the adventure. Because CRAC is much more than a club. It’s a concrete commitment to Ivorian 80

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rugby: development of women’s rugby, youth competitions, training, and openness.

This evening will mark a milestone, a passage to a new era, more structured, more visible, more ambitious. So if you love rugby, conviviality, and sharing, reserve your spot, prepare your finest shirt, and join us to write together the next pages of CRAC. Because at CRAC, we don’t just celebrate 10 years: we prepare the future!

GALA DU CRAC January 17, 2026 Cocody, Casino Barrière from 7:30pm Info and registration on cracrugbyabidjan.com

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ESCAPE & DISCOVERY

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VOYAGE

THE BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF PEACE IN YAMOUSSOUKRO

A MONUMENT TO REDISCOVER AT CHRISTMAS

Here is the history, grandeur, and secrets of an extraordinary monument. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 82

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n Yamoussoukro, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace stands as a unique architectural and spiritual jewel in Africa. The Christmas season, marked by lights, solemn masses, and the arrival of many pilgrims, is an ideal time to (re)visit it. But beyond the festive atmosphere, the basilica deserves to have its story told—astonishing, sometimes controversial, always fascinating.

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A Presidential Dream The adventure began in 1985 when Félix Houphouët-Boigny, to everyone’s surprise, announced the construction of a monumental basilica in Yamoussoukro. It was neither a request from the Church nor a need expressed by the population. It was a personal vision of the “Father of the Nation” to give his hometown a spectacular edifice symbolizing peace, “the most precious good,” as he often said, in a country he wanted united and stable.

The project, entrusted to architects Pierre Fakhoury and Patrick d’Hauthuille, brought together 36 companies, thousands of workers, and artisans from Europe and Africa. In just five years, the landscape was transformed.

The savanna was covered with concrete (nearly 100,000 tons!), imported marble, and giant scaffolding. In 1990, Pope John Paul II came to consecrate the building and planted an olive tree of peace, which still grows today in the gardens.

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VOYAGE

Familiar Architecture, Reinvented The basilica is often compared to St. Peter’s in Rome, and the inspiration is clear. But Yamoussoukro’s basilica has its own way of existing. Its immense dome, visible for miles, rises to 120 meters up to the dove at the top and reaches 158 meters to the golden cross at the summit—21 meters higher than the Vatican’s (though, at the pope’s request, the dome itself remains slightly smaller than Rome’s).

Inside, the marble floor stays cool even under the Ivorian heat. The stained glass windows cover more than 7,300 m², illustrating the Bible in a burst of colors.

One of them, according to guides, depicts Houphouët-Boigny kneeling at the feet of Christ, an anecdote that has become a local legend.

Around the building, 284 giant columns (four of which hide elevators) form a kind of open circle. Their arrangement symbolizes the Church welcoming all nations, a message dear to Houphouët-Boigny, who dreamed of Côte d’Ivoire as a crossroads of peoples. The esplanade of granite and marble stretches 84

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over 15,000 m², surrounded by 37 hectares of gardens where calm contrasts with the immensity of the place. At the entrance, the statue of the Virgin greets visitors with her right hand, in keeping with African traditions.

Secrets, Controversies, and Contradictions With 18,000 seats and a capacity for 300,000 standing people, the basilica could hold an entire city, though it is rarely filled. Paradoxically, it is not the seat of the archdiocese, which is in Abidjan.

Many visitors are struck by this contrast: a gigantic sanctuary, but a liturgical life that is deliberately sober and discreet.

The cost of the monument, estimated between 200 and 300 million dollars, sparked intense controversy during its construction. Critics denounced the gap between the project’s opulence and the country’s economic reality. At the pope’s request, the basilica was inaugurated with a commitment to build a modern hospital for the city, essential to balance spiritual symbolism with service to the population.

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The Basilica Today Over time, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace has earned a special place in the hearts of Ivorians. It is not just a religious site; it is a symbol of national ambition, a monument that tells a unique political, architectural, and spiritual story.

A Monument of Records!

The tallest basilica in the world (158m, 21m taller than St. Peter’s in Rome), The shortest construction time (1986–1989), The largest stained glass surface ever created, The widest Christian building in the world (150m wide, compared to 115m for St. Peter’s in Rome).

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VOYAGE

PASSIONATELY CI

BLACK LAKE – MODESTE, ROUTE DE BASSAM “A passionate traveler, I capture the beauty of the Ivory Coast through my adventures. Explore and collaborate with me on unique projects !”

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JACQUES ALLATIN Marketer, content creator, seaside tour operator 05 45 55 28 60 / 07 59 17 90 22 jacques_allatin

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