When is the Independence Day of Cote d’Ivoire celebrated?
Cote d’Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, is a country located in West Africa. Ivory Coast celebrates its Independence Day on August 7.
Independence Day commemorates Cote d’Ivoire’s freedom from France, gained in 1960.
How is Independence Day celebrated in Cote d’Ivoire?
Independence Day is a national holiday in Cote d’Ivoire. The day is packed with cultural activities and parties. Bangui, the local palm wine, and aloko, ripe banana fried in palm oil are served aplenty. Military parades and processions are also held in the capital city of Cote d’Ivoire – Yamoussoukro.
What is the significance of Independence Day in the history of Cote d’Ivoire?
The French made contact with Cote d’Ivoire in 1637 when missionaries landed on Assinie near the Gold Coast border. Assinie is now part of Ghana. France began extending its control over Cote d’Ivoire in 1843, and it became a French colony in 1893. From 1904 to 1958, Cote d’Ivoire became part of the Federation of French West Africa. This was a federation of eight territories in Africa that was formed in 1895 and continued to exist until 1960. The territories included Dahomey (now Benin), French Guinea, French Sudan (present-day Mali), Ivory Coast (now Cote d’Ivoire), Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).
From 1946 onwards many reforms were made in French West Africa, and in 1956, under the terms of the Overseas Reform Act, France transferred more power to the local governments. Cote d’Ivoire became an autonomous republic within the French community in December 1958 because of a referendum that established a community status for all countries that formed the Federation of French West Africa. Finally, on August 7, 1960, Cote d’Ivoire became an independent nation with Felix Houphouet-Boigny as its first president. It is this historic event that is celebrated as Independence Day in the country.
What does the national flag of Cote d’Ivoire represent?
The national flag of Cote d’Ivoire was adopted prior to its independence in 1959. It consists of three equal vertical bands of orange, white, and green. The orange represents the fertile Savanna grasslands found in the northern part of the country, the white stands for tranquility, and the green symbolizes hope. The green band also represents the lush forests of the country.
Who wrote the national anthem of Cote d’Ivoire?
The national anthem of Cote d’Ivoire, L’Abidjanaise, which means Song of Abidjan, was adopted in 1960. It is the creative work of Mathieu Ekra, Joachim Bony, and Pierre Marie Coty. The music was composed by Coty and Pierre Michel Pango.