Contemporary Issues in the Muslim World

8/8/2019 Contemporary Issues in the Muslim World

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CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE MUSLIM WORLD

HSM 2253

REPUBLIC OF COTE DIVORE / IVORY COAST

NAME: NUR SHAFINAS BINTI SALEEM

MATRIC NUMBER: 095809

I/C: 910615-07-5678

SECTION: 819


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INTRODUCTION

Figure 1: location of Ivory Coast in world map1

The Republic of Cote DIvore is commonly known in English as Ivory Coast and it is located

inWest Africa2. It has an area of 322,460 square kilometers.3

Ivory Coast gained its independence in 1960. For more than 30 years the nation had a

good reputation as one of the most prosperous and stable countries in sub-SaharanAfrica.

Many of its successes and some of its difficulties are resulted from the strong leadership of

its long-time president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny. His death in 1993 has been followed by

economic troubles, ethnic rivalries, controversial leaders, and a popular desire for

1http://www.mapsofworld.com/ivory-coast/ivory-coast-location-map.html

2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_coast

3http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-6878.html


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democracy.4

Abidjan is the former capital city of Ivory Coast and it was the third city to be

after Grand- Bassam and Bingerville.5

THE PEOPLE OF IVORY COAST

The Ivory Coast is the home of many different ethnic and cultural groups. The populations

of the people is approximately around 16,400,100 who live in that country.6

These people

belong to four major cultural groups which exist in Ivory Coast. The cultural groups are The

Akan who live in the southeast, The Kru in the southwest, The Mande in the northwest and

lastly The Voltaic in the north- central and northeast. 7

THE AKAN

From the 15th century until 19th century,The Akan people dominated gold mining and gold

trade. From 17th

centure, they were the most powerful groups in West African region and

they fought the European in order to maintain autonomy.By the early 1900s, all their lands

were colonized by French and English. In 1957, Akan lands in the Gold Coast were liberated

by Kwame Nkrumah and were joined with other territory to form the independent nation of

Ghana. The Ivory Coast was liberated on the 7th

August 1960.8

Figure 2: Female figure on the ground9

4http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/aes_02/aes_02_00196.html

5http://www.abidjanivorycoast.com/

6http://www.africaguide.com/country/ivoryc/culture.htm

7http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/nations/ivorycoast/people.html

8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people

9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people


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THE KRU

Kru are an e

nic group who live in interior of Liberia. In 1856 when part of Liberia was

still known as the independent Republic of Maryland, The Kru along with the Grebo resisted

Maryland settlersefforts to control their trade. They were also infamous amongst early

European slave raiders as being especially averse to capture. They are distinct from the

Krumen (Kru), a subgroup of the Grebo who live along thecoast.10

Fi

u

3:A

n of th

K

u11

10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kru_people

11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kru_people


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THE MANDE

Mande is an ethnic group of West Africa. They usuallyspeak Mande Language and live in

Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso and Ivory

Coast.12

Mande people inhabit variousenvironmentsstarting from coastal rainforests to the

sparseSahel and Sahara. The Mande have a wide range ofcultures and beliefs. Most of them

profess Islamic belief but this ranges between orthodox Sunni Islam to cultural I slam with

many aspects of traditional religions practised.13

Fi

u

4: G

oup of

nd

p

opl

d

n

in

hil

pl

in

d

u

14

12http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mand%C 3%A9_people

13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mand%C 3%A9_peoples

14http://djembefola.com/images/SanankoroEnsemble.jpg


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THE VOLTAIC

Voltaiccultures are found in the northeastern Ivory Coast, northern Ghana, and Burkina

Faso. Theysharesimilar culture with The Mande peoples to their west.15

THE FOOD

Thestaple diet of the peopleconsist of grains and tubers . Alloca is the national dish of the

country while Attieke is apopular side dish. Besides that, braised chicken and fish served

with onions and tomatoes. Nvoufou is prepared from mashed bananas or yam mixed with

palm oil and served with auberginesauce whileBangui , a local wine made from local white

palm.wine is their national drink.16

15http://countrystudies.us/ivory-coast/26.htm

16http://www.placesonline.com/africa/ivory_coast/food_and_drink.asp


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Figure 5: Alloca17

Figure 6 :Attieke18

RELIGION

The people in Ivory Coast practise many beliefs. Almost 60% of the people practices their

traditional beliefs. Out of the population, around 6,670,912 millions, about 20% practice

Islam as their religion and almost only 10% practice Christianity and Roman Catholism.

Although only a small number that practice Christianity but the largest Christian church in all

of Africa is located in Yamoussoukro.19

Figure 7: Largest church in the world in Yamoussoukro20

17dunearn.edu.sg

18http://petercherches.blogspot.com/2008/07/attieke-to-write-home-about.html

19http://library.thinkquest.org/J002335/IvoryCoast/IvoryCoast.html

20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Peace_of_Yamoussoukro


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Figure 8: Mosque in

orhogo21

LANGUAGES

French is the official language and it is used throughout the country.24% of the

population speakBaule and only 18% of the 6,670,912 millions of people spoke their village

languages. The otherspoken Malinke and Senoufo.22

21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_C%C3%B4te_d'Ivoire



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CONCL

ON

As we know, Republic of Cote DIvore or Ivory Coast is located in West Africa with a

population almost 16,400,100 of people who live in that country. Ivory Coast is an unique

country as it has the largest population children in the whole world.23Besides that, this

country hasvariousethnic group such as The Mande, The Akan, The K ru and TheVoltaic

which posses a different traditions and beliefssuch as Islam, Christian and traditional belief.

Although they are multiracial, they live in harmony and peace . Moreover, they havegood

reputation as one of the most prosperous and stablecountries in sub -SaharanAfrica.


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