Five Fascinating facts about Ivory Coast

We're sharing five incredible facts about Ivory Coast today in honor of DJ Arafat, one of Africa and Ivory Coast's most prominent artists, who passed away yesterday after a traffic accident. You'll be amazed by the things you'll discover about this resilient West African country.

1. Yamoussoukro Ivory Coast's political capital, is home to the largest basilica/church building in the world. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro is the largest church in the world, with an area of 30,000 square meters and capacity of 18,000. Its construction cost between US$175-600 million.

2. Ivory Coast is the world's leading producer of cocoa, supplying 30% of the world's total cocoa output. In 2017, Ivory Coast produced 1.8 million tons of cocoa, while neighboring Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo (other top producers) produced 1.55 million tons.

3. Ivory Coast boasts of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Such sites are considered to be of "Outstanding Universal Value". The UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ivory Coast are:

Comoé National Park, Grand Bassam - a historic town, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, and Tai National Park.

Tai National Park

4. Queen Pokou, or Awura, Aura, or Abla Pokou born princess of Kumasi, Ghana, was Queen and founder of the Baoulé tribe in West Africa, now Ivory Coast. She is said to have led the Baoulé people - from Ghana in the mid-18th century - westward, through a long, difficult journey, to the Komoé River. She is said to have sacrificed her own child to river spirits to lead them across the said river Pokou sacrificed her son, throwing him into the water. According to legend, after the sacrifice, hippopotami appeared and formed a bridge, which Pokou and her people used to cross to the opposite bank of the Komoé. Once they crossed, she called out "Ba ouli" or "the child is dead," which is why her descendants are today known as the Baoulé.

5. There have been two major civil wars in Ivory Coast since its independence from France in 1960. The First Ivorian Civil War lasted for five years; it began in 2002 and ended in 2007. This war claimed close to 2,000 lives. The Second Ivorian Civil War began in 2010 and ended in 2011, claiming 3,000 lives.

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