Festivals and Events

One of Côte D'Ivoire's most famous festivals is the Fêtes des Masques (Festival of Masks), which takes place in the region of Man. Numerous small villages in the region hold contests to determine the best dancers and to pay homage to forest spirits who are embodied in elaborate masks. Another important event is the week-long carnival in Bouaké each March.

The Fête du Dipri in Gomon, near Abidjan, takes place in April. This festival starts around midnight, when women and children sneak out of their huts and, naked, carry out nocturnal rites to exorcise the village of evil spells. Before sunrise the chief appears, drums pound and villagers go into trances. The frenzy continues until the late afternoon of the next day.

Ramadan is the most important Muslim holiday, during which everyone fasts from sunrise to sunset by the fourth pillar of Islam. Ramadan concludes with a massive feast, Eid al-Fitr, during which everyone prays together, visits friends, exchanges gifts, and stuffs themselves.