Abidjan
Abidjan (/ˌæbɪˈdʒɑːn/ AB-ih-JAHN, French: [abidʒɑ̃]; N'ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the largest city and the former capital of the Ivory Coast. As of the 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million,[3] which is 21.5 percent of overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in Africa, after Lagos, Cairo, Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, and Johannesburg. A cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is characterised by a high level of industrialisation and urbanisation. It is also the most populous Dioula-speaking and French-speaking city in Africa (Kinshasa being mainly Lingala-speaking).
Abidjan
Abidjan
2,119 km2 (818 sq mi)
422 km2 (163 sq mi)
18 m (59 ft)
6,321,017
3,000/km2 (7,700/sq mi)
5,616,633
13,000/km2 (34,000/sq mi)
Abidjanais
0.619 (medium)
+225
abidjan.district.ci (in French)
The city expanded quickly after the construction of a new wharf in 1931, followed by its designation as the capital city of the then-French colony in 1933. The completion of the Vridi Canal in 1951 enabled Abidjan to become an important sea port. Abidjan remained the capital of the Ivory Coast after its independence from France in 1960. In 1983, the city of Yamoussoukro was designated as the official political capital of Ivory Coast. However, Abidjan has officially been designated as the "economic capital" of the country, because it is the largest city in the country and the centre of its economic activity. Many political institutions and all foreign embassies continue to be located in Abidjan as well. The Abidjan Autonomous District, which encompasses the city and some of its suburbs, is one of the 14 districts of Ivory Coast.
Etymology[edit]
According to oral tradition of the Tchaman as reported in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Côte d'Ivoire,[5] the name "Abidjan" results from a misunderstanding. Legend states that an old man carrying branches to repair the roof of his house met a European explorer who asked him the name of the nearest village. The old man did not speak the language of the explorer, and thought that he was being asked to justify his presence in that place. Terrified by this unexpected meeting, he fled shouting "min-chan m'bidjan", which means in the Ebrié language: "I just cut the leaves." The explorer, thinking that his question had been answered, recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan.
A slightly different and less elaborate version of the legend: When the first colonists asked a native man the name of the place, the man misunderstood and replied "M'bi min djan": "I've just been cutting leaves".[6]
Relationships and partnerships[edit]
Diplomacy and international bodies[edit]
Abidjan is the regional headquarters of major international institutions, including UNICEF, UN Development Program, World Health Organization, World Food Program, UNOPS,[47] UNFPA,[48] International Labour Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and IFAD. Diplomatic missions in Ivory Coast are mostly located in Abidjan.
The African Development Bank (ADB),[49] the largest financial institution in Africa, is headquartered in Abidjan.
