Unapologetic artsy !

For several years now, Abidjan has been establishing itself as a hub for artistic creation and cultural influence. Aya de Yopougon, a cult saga by Marguerite Abouet that has been adapted for the cinema, opened a window onto everyday life in Côte d'Ivoire and its slang, Nouchi. The word ‘go,’ meaning a young woman or girlfriend, has made its way into the 2023 edition of the Le Petit Robert French dictionary, among others. On the art scene, countless new spaces are opening up. The Cécile Fakhoury Gallery, the Donwahi Foundation, the Farah Fakhri and LouiSimone Guirandou galleries, and museums such as the MuCAT in Abobo are putting on ambitious exhibitions. Aboudia, painter and 2021 global auction star, embodies this new visibility of the continent's art, with record sales. Other personalities are actively contributing to Côte d'Ivoire's cultural influence. Serge Bilé brings memory and pride together in his musicals. Lafalaise Dion has turned the cowrie shell into a visual manifesto for Beyoncé and Viola Davis. François-Xavier Gbré tells hidden stories through ruins and walls, even at the Venice Biennale. Jean Servais Somian carves coconut trees into designer furniture that travels miles from Grand-Bassam. Ouattara Watts, famous for his painting-sculptures, has based himself in New York. The art scene is taking shape, talent is being exported and culture is now a source of influence that is as essential as it is natural.