Category Archives: Uncategorized

Abidjan taxis and other fragments

Posted on May 14, 2018 by admin

In April 2014, I made my first return to Abidjan after leaving for Dubai in late 2012. I published some blog posts at the time, but a few others sat in a Word document on my desktop, and four years’ … Continue reading →

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A full house

Posted on May 11, 2018 by admin

It might be personal taste, but one thing I appreciate about our life in our particular corner of West Africa is having a full house. There are six of us in our two bedroom place – two small children, myself … Continue reading →

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Reflections on YCD

Posted on September 24, 2013 by admin

Long time followers of this site, will remember that a while back I mentioned the Young, Creative and Digital evenings that I set up with a couple of friends in Abidjan. In total, we organised three (I think) following a … Continue reading →

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Garba story – a review

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

Last weekend, I received a free ticket to a performance of “Garba Story” – it’s unfortunately rare to see theatrical performances in Abidjan, so this was something of a treat. The performance was written and put together by the Lebanese cultural extraodinaire … Continue reading →

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Isomorphic mimicry

Posted on July 4, 2011 by admin

I was intrigued to come across the term ‘isomorphic mimicry’ (thanks to the reference in Owen Abroad), used by Lant Pritchett to explain the process of “replicating existing forms and processes without functionality”. The idea comes from nature where animals … Continue reading →

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Ivorian diaspora networks

Posted on June 5, 2011 by admin

A call for more developed Ivorian diaspora networks Continue reading →

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Five Basic Tips for New Arrivals in Ivory Coast, and perhaps Africa too

Posted on May 26, 2011 by admin

Five tips for visitors to Ivory Coast Continue reading →

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Cocoa Reforms

Posted on May 20, 2011 by admin

Since independence in 1960, Ivory Coast’s economy has been built on growing and exporting cocoa beans, and since the late 1970s it’s been the world’s biggest producer. Current production is just over 1.2 million tons per year, around 34% of … Continue reading →

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Frantz Fanon on Ivory Coast in ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ (1961)…

Posted on May 12, 2011 by admin

“The working class of the towns, the masses of unemployed, the small artisans and the craftsmen for their part line up behind this nationalist attitude; but in all justice let it be said, they only follow in the steps of … Continue reading →

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Moto-taxis – a solution to unemployment in Abidjan?

Posted on May 10, 2011 by admin

To any recent visitor to Ivory Coast’s second city Bouake, the first remark is generally about the abundance of motorbikes and particularly mototaxis. These have flourished because i) mototaxis are illegal and the law hasn’t applied in the northern half … Continue reading →

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