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Abidjan - the Manhattan of Africa!

Abidjan. Of the African cities I have visited, Abidjan, the economic and former official capital of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has one of the best views when one is landing. As of 2011 it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris and Kinshasa, but before Montreal. Considered a cultural hub of West Africa, Abidjan is characterized by a high level of industrialization and urbanization.

The city stands in Ébrié Lagoon, on several converging peninsulas and islands, connected by bridges. In 1983, Yamoussoukro was designated as the nation's capital, but most government offices and foreign embassies are still in Abidjan. With a population of around 4,000,000 people, it is the second largest city in West Africa after Lagos and has historically been the economic power base of the region. 

Today, despite the current political issues in Cote d'Ivoire at large, Abidjan remains the economic and de facto capital of the country. Even after everything that's happened, it still boasts a large selection of restaurants, hotels, sites, and other reasons to visit. 

Breathtaking shoreline in Abidjan


The airport, while not being as big as OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg or Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi, is quite tastefully done and easy to navigate. One can't be bored if transiting there as I was last year in May. One thing u can't miss is a well stocked pharmacy. This is a common building in most West African nations. Pharmacies are all over and can be open even for 24 hours. I enjoyed jus d'ananas (pineapple juice) at the airport. Pineapple juice is a favourite drink in West Africa due to it's cooling properties to the body in humid climates.


The University of Abidjan, several technical colleges, and the National Library of Ivory Coast and National museum are in the city. Sights in Abidjan include St Paul's Cathedral (see phoot above), designed by Aldo Spirito, the Cocody Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art and the Parc du Banco rainforest reserve. Le Plateau is known for its skyscrapers, unusual in West Africa. Le Plateau is the business centre of Abidjan. With its gleaming skyscrapers, chic boutiques and outdoor cafes, le Plateau is a favourite place of business travellers. 

People in Abidjan are friendly. French is widely spoken though a few can speak English. Thank God, I did French up to university (first year). So I was able to have a decent chat when need arose. I remember joking in French with a pharmacist, who asked me where I came from, by replying that I was from the nation that beat their nation in the 2012 Afcon Final! Those who don't like French, think twice, it is spoken by many in Africa and other parts of the world! Anyway whether you speak French or not, you can expect to be given a warm Ivorian welcome in Abidjan similar to the one below :-) .

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