Abidjan

According to oral tradition of the Tchaman as reported in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Côte d'Ivoire, the name "Abidjan" results from a misunderstanding. Legend states that an old man carrying branches to repair the roof of his house met a European explorer who asked him the name of the nearest village. The old man did not speak the language of the explorer, and thought that he was being asked to justify his presence in that place. Terrified by this unexpected meeting, he fled shouting "min-chan m'bidjan", which means in the Ebrié language: "I just cut the leaves." The explorer, thinking that his question had been answered, recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan. A slightly different and less elaborate version of the legend: When the first colonists asked a native man the name of the place, the man misunderstood and replied "M'bi min djan": "I've just been cutting leaves".

Abidjan was originally a small Atchan fishing village. In 1896, following a series of deadly yellow fever epidemics, French colonists who had initially settled in Grand-Bassam decided to move to a safer place and in 1898 chose the current location of Abidjan. In 1903 it officially became a town. The settlers were followed by the colonial government, created in 1899. But then nearby Bingerville became the capital of the French colony, from 1900 until 1934. The future Abidjan, situated on the edge of the lagoon n'doupé ("the lagoon in hot water"), offered more land and greater opportunities for trade expansion. The wharf in Petit Bassam (now Port-Bouët) south of town quickly overtook the wharf of Grand-Bassam in importance, and became the main point of economic access to the colony. In 1904, the rail terminus was located in the Port-Bouët area of Abidjan. …

Abidjan lies on the south-east coast of the country, on the Gulf of Guinea. The city is located on the Ébrié Lagoon. The business district, Le Plateau, is the center of the city, along with Cocody, Deux Plateaux (the city's wealthiest neighborhood and a hub for diplomats), and Adjamé, a slum on the north shore of the lagoon. Treichville and Marcory lie to the south, Attecoube, Locodjro, Abobo Doume and Yopougon to the west, and Île Boulay is located in the middle of the lagoon. Further south lies Port Bouët, home to the airport and main seaport. Abidjan is located at 5°25' North, 4°2' West (5.41667, –4.03333). Abidjan experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, according to the Köppen climate classification (Köppen climate classification: Aw), closely bordering a tropical monsoon climate. Abidjan has nonconsecutive rainy seasons (precipitation above 60 millimetres (2. …

The National Library of Côte d'Ivoire In Cocody: The Goethe Institute. The Municipal Museum. The American Culture Centre (CCA) The Ki Yi M'Bock Village (in the Riviera). Cocody Museum of Contemporary Art. Point d'Orgue, private music education centre In Plateau: The French Cultural Centre (CCF) The Côte d'Ivoire Museum of Civilisations: presents a collection of Ivorian art (statues, masks, jewelry, tools, carved doors, tom-toms and musical instruments from every region in the country). In Treichville: The Sports Palace The Cultural Palace. …

The principal stock exchange of Ivory Coast and the other seven countries of the Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), is located in Abidjan. Air Ivoire had its head office in Abidjan. Prior to its dissolution, Air Afrique was headquartered in Abidjan.

Simon Adingra (born 2002), footballer Patrick Bohui (born 2003), footballer Fatou Bolli (born 1952), novelist Amad Diallo (born 2002), footballer Lassina Diomandé (born 1979), footballer Didier Drogba (born 1978), footballer Modeste Gnakpa (born 1988), footballer Marc Guéhi (born 2000), footballer Kader Kohou (born 1998), American football player Ismaël Koné (born 2002), footballer Christian Kouamé (born 1997), footballer Arnaud Monney (born 1981), footballer Anderson Lago Zeze (born 1989), footballer Olivia Yacé (born 1998), beauty queen, Tourism Ambassador of Ivory Coast Wilfried Zaha (born 1992), footballer