The document summarizes how Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast, was once a popular beach destination but is now developing a reputation as an entrepreneurial hub. Some key points: - Abidjan was once known for its beaches and tourism but faced economic and political instability in the 1990s. - It is now developing into a business and banking center, with a growing focus on entrepreneurship among youth. - As the country's largest city and economic center, Abidjan warrants its nickname "the Manhattan of the Tropics" and is an important hub, though it still faces challenges.

1. ONCE A POPULAR BEACH DESTINATION, THE
“MANHATTAN OF THE TROPICS” IS NOW
DEVELOPING A NAME AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HUB
FLY ABIDJANFLY ABIDJAN
BY LINDA MARKOVINA (@MOVING_SUSHI)

2. abidjan
Dry your tears, Afrika!
We have drunk from all the
springs of ill-fortune and of glory
And our senses are now opened
To the splendour of your beauty
To the smell of your forests
To the charm of your waters
To the clearness of your skies
To the cares of your sun.
From Dry Your Tears, Afrika by Bernard Binlin Dadié, 1967
For use by louiseg@nationalpositions.com only. Distribution prohibited.

3. 58 Sawubona June 2015
t was 1995 when SA played host to its
Ƥ”•–Ǧ‡˜‡” —‰„› ‘”Ž† —’Ǥ

4. ™ƒ• ˜‡”›
›‘—‰ǡ ‹
”ƒ†‡ ͞ ƒ† –Š‡ …‘—–”› ™ƒ•
Š‹‰Š ‘ ”—‰„› ˆ‡˜‡”Ǥ

5.  › …Žƒ••ǡ ‡ƒ…Š
‘ˆ —• Šƒ† –‘ †”ƒ™ ƒ •Ž‹’ ‘ˆ ’ƒ’‡” ˆ”‘ ƒ
Žƒ”‰‡ Šƒ–Ǥ  ‹– ™ƒ• ™”‹––‡ –Š‡ ƒ‡
‘ˆ –Š‡ ”—‰„› –‡ƒ ™Š‘ǯ† „‡…‘‡
Dz‘—” •‹†‡dz ˆ‘” –Š‡ †—”ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡
–‘—”ƒ‡–Ǥ ‡ Šƒ† –‘ ”‡•‡ƒ”…Š –Š‡
…‘—–”› ™‡ ™‡”‡ ‰‹˜‡ ƒ† –Š‡ ”‡’‘”–
„ƒ… –‘ –Š‡ …Žƒ••ǡ †‡–ƒ‹Ž‹‰ •‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡
…—Ž–—”ƒŽ ƒ† ‹–‡”‡•–‹‰ ˆƒ…–• ™‡ Ž‡ƒ”–
ƒ• –Š‡ ‰ƒ‡• —ˆ‘Ž†‡†Ǥ
Š‡ …‘—–”›

6. †”‡™ ™ƒ• –Š‡

7. ˜‘”›
‘ƒ•–Ǥ ‹––Ž‡ †‹†

8. ‘™ –Šƒ– •‘‡ ͝͡
›‡ƒ”• Žƒ–‡”ǡ

9. ǯ† ‡† —’ ˜‹•‹–‹‰ „‹†Œƒǡ
–Š‡

10. ˜‘”› ‘ƒ•–ǯ• …‘‡”…‹ƒŽ ƒ†
„ƒ‹‰ Š‡ƒ”–Ǥ
‘‘‹‰ „ƒ…ǡ

11. †‘ǯ– ”‡…ƒŽŽ
‡šƒ…–Ž› ™Šƒ–

12. ‹‰Š– Šƒ˜‡
•ƒ‹† ‹ ƒ …Žƒ••”‘‘
•’‡‡…Š ƒ„‘—– ƒ
…‘—–”› –Šƒ–ǡ –‘
› ›‘—‰‡”
•‡Žˆǡ —•– Šƒ˜‡
•‡‡‡† ˜‡”› ˆƒ”
ƒ™ƒ›ǡ —’ –Š‡ ™‡•–
…‘ƒ•– ‘ˆ ˆ”‹…ƒǤ
‘™ǡ †”‹˜‹‰ ‘˜‡” –Š‡ ‘–
‡‡”ƒŽ
†‡
ƒŽŽ‡ ‘ –Š‡ ™ƒ› –‘ ‡ Žƒ–‡ƒ—ǡ
„‹†Œƒǯ• „—•‹‡•• †‹•–”‹…–ǡ ˆƒ…‹‰ ƒ
™ƒŽŽ ‘ˆ –”‘’‹…ƒŽ Š—‹†‹–›ǡ

13. ”‡ƒŽ‹•‡
–Šƒ– ƒ› ‹ƒ‰‹‹‰•

14. Šƒ† ƒ• ƒ …Š‹Ž†
™‡”‡ ’”‘„ƒ„Ž› ˜ƒ•–Ž› †‹ơ‡”‡– ˆ”‘
–Š‹• ˆ”‹…ƒ …‹–›ǡ ™Š‹…Š ‹• ƒ›–Š‹‰
„—– ƒ˜‡”ƒ‰‡Ǥ
…‡ ƒ ’‘’—Žƒ” „‡ƒ…Š †‡•–‹ƒ–‹‘
ƒ‘‰ ”‡…Š •—Ǧ•‡‡‡”•ǡ ‹– •ƒ™
–™‘ …‹˜‹Ž ™ƒ”• ȋ‹ ͜͜͞͞ ƒ† ͜͞͝͝Ȍ
–Šƒ– …”‹’’Ž‡† –Š‡ …‘—–”›ǯ• –‘—”‹•Ǥ
Šƒ”‹‰ „‘”†‡”• ™‹–Š ‹„‡”‹ƒ ƒ†
—‹‡ƒ ȋ‘™ ‹ˆƒ‘—• ™‘”Ž†™‹†‡
„‡…ƒ—•‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ”‡…‡– ‘—–„”‡ƒ ‘ˆ –Š‡
†‡ƒ†Ž› ‡„‘Žƒ ˜‹”—•ǡ ™Š‹…Š –Šƒˆ—ŽŽ›
Šƒ•ǯ– –‘—…Š‡† –Š‡

15. ˜‘”› ‘ƒ•– –‘ †ƒ–‡Ȍǡ
‹– ƒ› ‘– •‡‡ Ž‹‡ –Š‡
‹†‡ƒŽ ’Žƒ…‡ –‘ ˜‡–—”‡ ‹–‘Ǥ

16. –
‹‰Š– ‘– Šƒ˜‡ –Š‡ •‘—Žˆ—Ž ‹‰Š– Ž‹ˆ‡
‘ˆ ‡‡‰ƒŽ ‘” –Š‡ –Š‹… ƒ‹” ‘ˆ „—•‹‡••
ƒ† …Šƒ‘• ›‘— Ƥ† ‹ ‹‰‡”‹ƒǡ „—– ‹–
™ƒ””ƒ–• ‹–• ‹…ƒ‡ǡ DzƒŠƒ––ƒ
‘ˆ –Š‡ ”‘’‹…•dzǡ „‡…ƒ—•‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒ›
•›•…”ƒ’‡”• …Ž—•–‡”‡† ƒ”‘—† –Š‡ 2„”‹±
ƒ‰‘‘ǡ ™Š‹…Š •–”‡–…Š‡• ‘˜‡” ͜͜͞
‘ ‡‹–Š‡” •‹†‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ …‹–› …‡–”‡Ǥ

17.  ƒ …‘—–”› –Šƒ–ǯ• –Š‡ ™‘”Ž†ǯ•
Žƒ”‰‡•– ’”‘†—…‡” ‘ˆ …‘…‘ƒ „‡ƒ• ƒ†
‹• Š‘‡ –‘ ‘˜‡” ͢͜ ‡–Š‹… ‰”‘—’•ǡ –Š‡
‘•– ‹’‘”–ƒ– ”‡•‘—”…‡ ˆ‘” ‰‡––‹‰
ƒ”‘—† –Š‡ …‹–› ‹• ƒ ‰‘‘† ‘™Ž‡†‰‡ ‘ˆ
”‡…Š ƒ† ƒ †‡‡’ ’ƒ••‹‘ ˆ‘” •‘……‡” Ȃ
‡‹–Š‡” ‘ˆ ™Š‹…Š

18. Šƒ˜‡Ǥ
Šƒ• –‘ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ –‡ƒ ‡•
2Ž±’Šƒ–•ǡ ™Š‘•‡ ’Žƒ›‡”• ƒ”‡ ‘ˆ–‡
‹˜‘Ž˜‡† ‹ †‹ơ‡”‡– ‹‹–‹ƒ–‹˜‡• ƒ”‘—†
–Š‡ …‘—–”› –‘ ’”‘‘–‡ ’‡ƒ…‡
–Š”‘—‰Š •’‘”–ǡ •‘……‡” ‹•
ƒ ™ƒ› ‘ˆ Ž‹ˆ‡ ‹ –Š‡

19. ˜‘”›
‘ƒ•–ǡ ™Š‡”‡ ƒ Ž‘…ƒŽ
–‡ƒ …ƒ „‡ ˆ‘—† ‹
’”‡––› —…Š ‡˜‡”› –‘™
ƒ† ˜‹ŽŽƒ‰‡Ǥ ––‡”‹‰
–Š‡ ƒ‡ ‘ˆ ˆƒ‘—•
ˆ‘”‡” ƒ’–ƒ‹ ‹†‹‡”
”‘‰„ƒ •‡‡• –‘
™‘” ™‘†‡”• ˆ‘” ›
•–”‡‡– …”‡†Ǥ
Š‡ „‡•– ™ƒ› –‘ ‰‡– ƒ …Ž‡ƒ”
’‡”•’‡…–‹˜‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ž‹‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Žƒ† ‹• –‘
Š‡ƒ† –‘ – ƒ—Žǯ• ƒ–Š‡†”ƒŽǡ Š‹‰Š —’ ‘
‡ Žƒ–‡ƒ—ǡ ™‹–Š ƒ ”ƒ–Š‡” ˆ‘”‹†ƒ„Ž‡
ˆƒ­ƒ†‡ –Šƒ– ˆƒŽŽ• •‘‡™Š‡”‡ „‡–™‡‡
ƒ •Š‹’ǯ• •ƒ‹Ž ƒ† ƒ ˆ—–—”‹•–‹… …”‘••
†‘‹ƒ–‹‰ –Š‡ •›Ž‹‡ ‘˜‡” –Š‡ ƒ› ‘ˆ
‘…‘†›Ǥ ‡•‹‰‡† „›

20. –ƒŽ‹ƒ ƒ”…Š‹–‡…–
Ž†‘ ’‹”‹–‘ ƒ† …‘’Ž‡–‡† ‹ ͥͤ͝͡ǡ
‹–ǯ• ‘”‡ –Šƒ Œ—•– ƒ —‹“—‡ †‡•‹‰ ‘
–Š‡

21. ˜‘”‹ƒ Žƒ†•…ƒ’‡Ǥ —”‹‰ ͜͜͞͝ǡ
–Š‹• …Š—”…Š ‘ơ‡”‡† ƒ •ƒˆ‡ ”‡ˆ—‰‡ ˆ‘”
ƒ› ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ž‘…ƒŽ ’‡‘’Ž‡ …ƒ—‰Š– —’ ‹
–Š‡ –”ƒ—ƒ–‹… •‡…‘† …‹˜‹Ž ™ƒ”ǡ ™Š‡
‡ƒ”Ž› ͝ ͤ͜͜ ‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ• ™‡”‡ …ƒ—‰Š–
‹ –Š‡ ‰—Ƥ”‡ –Šƒ– ‡…Š‘‡† ƒ…”‘•• –Š‡
•–”‡‡–• ‘ˆ „‹†ŒƒǤ
Š‡

22. ˜‘”› ‘ƒ•–ǯ• ‹”‡† ’ƒ•– Šƒ•
Ž‡ˆ– „ƒ•‹… ƒ‡‹–‹‡• •—…Š ƒ• ‡Ž‡…–”‹…‹–›
ƒ† ”—‹‰ ™ƒ–‡” ‹ •…ƒ”…‡ •—’’Ž›
‹ …‡”–ƒ‹ ƒ”‡ƒ•Ǥ ‹–Š ƒ› ’‡‘’Ž‡
—ƒ„Ž‡ –‘ ‡ƒ” ‡˜‡ –Š‡ ‹‹—
™ƒ‰‡ ‘ˆ ͊͜͝͞ ƒ ‘–Š ƒ†
Š—†”‡†• Šƒ˜‹‰ Ž‘•–
‡˜‡”›–Š‹‰ ‹ –Š‡ ˜‹‘Ž‡…‡
‘ˆ ͜͜͞͝ǡ ‡–”‡’”‡‡—”•
ƒ”‡ „‡…‘‹‰ –Š‡ †”‹˜‡”•
‘ˆ ˆ—–—”‡ ‰”‘™–Š ƒ†
‹‘˜ƒ–‹‘ ‹ –Š‡ ’‘•–Ǧ
…‘ƪ‹…– …‘—–”›Ǥ ™ƒŽ
ƒ”‘—† –Š‡ ±…‹Ž‡ ƒŠ‘—”›
ƒŽŽ‡”›ǡ –ƒ‹‰ ‹ –Š‡ •—„Ž‹‡
’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š› ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ž‹‡• ‘ˆ
‡•–‘” ƒ ƒ† ƒ—Ž ‹ƒǡ ™‹ŽŽ ‰‹˜‡
Nothing beats simply hitting the street
corner any time of the day or night to treat
yourself in local restaurants run by maquis.
CLOCKWISE,
FROM ABOVE:
St Paul’s
Cathedral. Ivory
Coast’s soccer
forward Gervais
Yao Kouassi
(Gervinho).
A farmer sells
cocoa beans at
the International
Agriculture
Animal Resources
Fair. The beaches
have a lot to offer.

23. abidjan
June 2015 Sawubona 59
you plenty of reasons to be inspired
and optimistic. And the burgeoning
restaurant and nightlife scenes are
†‡Ƥ‹–‡Ž› •‘‡–Š‹‰ –‘ ™ƒ–…ŠǤ

24. …‘—Ž†
extol the virtues of many eateries
ƒ† ‡˜‡‹‰ ™ƒ–‡”‹‰ Š‘Ž‡• –Šƒ–
have emerged in the city, including
Restaurant Aboussouan
ȋƒ ’”‹…›ǡ „—– ‰”‡ƒ– ™‹‡ „ƒ”Ȍ ‘”
ƒƒƒǡ ™Š‡”‡ ‡ƒ† Š‡ˆ Š”‹•–‡ŽŽ‡
‘—‰‘ •‡”˜‡• ˆƒ„—Ž‘—• †‹•Š‡• ™‹–Š ”‡ƒŽ
Ž‘…ƒŽ ƪƒ˜‘—”•Ǥ
‘™‡˜‡”ǡ

25. ǯ Š‡”‡ ‘•–Ž› ˆ‘” –Š‡
glorious street food: sumptuous,
spicy, sublime charcoal-grilled
chicken, addictive fried bananas
or aloko •‡”˜‡† ™‹–Š ‘‹‘•ǡ
attieke ƒ†‡ ˆ”‘ …ƒ••ƒ˜ƒ ƒ† ™‹–Š
a couscous-like texture, seafood
ƒ† ˆ”‡•Š ˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡• ƪƒ˜‘—”‡† ™‹–Š
•™‡ƒ–Ǧ‹†—…‹‰ ’‹‡–‘ ’‡’’‡”•ǡ
ginger, garlic, nutmeg, cinnamon
and cloves.
Š‡”‡ǯ• ƒ ™‘†‡”ˆ—Ž ‹š ‘ˆ Ž‘…ƒŽ
and French cuisine to suit every
budget and taste. Nothing beats
hitting the street corner any time
of the day or night to treat yourself
in local restaurants run by maquis.
To be considered a maquis, you
have to serve food cooked over a
Ž‘™ Ƥ”‡Ǥ

26. – ‹‰Š– ‘– „‡ ‡ƒ•› ‘ –Š‡
‡›‡ǡ „—– ‹–ǯ• †‡Ž‹…‹‘—• ƒ† –Š‡ •‹œ‡
‘ˆ –Š‡ ’‘”–‹‘• ‹• †‡Ƥ‹–‡Ž› ‡ƒ•› ‘
–Š‡ ™ƒŽŽ‡–Ǥ
Even getting hopelessly lost
™Š‹Ž‡ ™‡ƒ˜‹‰ ƒ”‘—† –Š‡
•–”‡‡–• Ž‘‘‹‰ ˆ‘” Š‡œ
Ambroise (ironically, since
‹–ǯ• ƒ –‘—”‹•–•ǯ ‹…‘ǡ •‘ ›‘—ǯ†
–Š‹ ‹– ™‘—Ž† „‡ ‡ƒ•› –‘
Ƥ†Ȍ ‹• ”‡™ƒ”†‹‰Ǥ Š‹•
‘’‡Ǧƒ‹” ”‡•–ƒ—”ƒ–ǡ ‡•–Ž‡† „‡–™‡‡
street vendors, has a lively atmosphere
ƒ† •‡”˜‡• Š‡ƒ”–›ǡ †‹•–‹…–Ž›

27. ˜‘”‹ƒ
ˆ‘‘†ǡ ™Š‹Ž‡ •‹‰‹‰ „ƒ†• ”‘ƒ
around the tables. A real test for
–Š‘•‡ ™‹–Š ƒ ƒ†˜‡–—”‘—• ’ƒŽƒ–‡ ‹•
the popular local dish of giant land
•ƒ‹Ž•ǡ ™ƒ•Š‡† †‘™ ™‹–Š ƒ ”‡ˆ”‡•Š‹‰
Tuborg beer.
Šƒ–

28. Ž‘˜‡ ‘•– ƒ„‘—– –Š‹• …‹–›
is the impression it leaves on you.

29. ˜‘”‹ƒ• ƒ”‡ ‹…”‡†‹„Ž› ˆ”‹‡†Ž› ƒ†
™‡Ž…‘‹‰ǡ ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ› –‘ ƒ ™‡ƒ”›
–‘—”‹•– Ž‹‡ ‡ ™‹–Š ƒ ˜‡”› Ž‹‹–‡†
French vocabulary. Despite the
•Ž‘™ ”ƒ–‡ ‘ˆ –‘—”‹• ‰”‘™–Šǡ
the country has a lot to
‘ơ‡” „‡›‘† „—•‹‡••
development. From the
beaches of Assinie and
Assounde to the famous
stilt dancing in Touba,
–Š‡”‡ǯ• ’Ž‡–› –‘ †‘ ƒ†
see. Visit the former French
…‘Ž‘‹ƒŽ …ƒ’‹–ƒŽ ƒ† ‘™
‡•…‘ ‘”Ž† ‡”‹–ƒ‰‡ ‹–‡
‘ˆ
”ƒ† ƒ••ƒǡ –Š‡ ƒƒœ‹‰
ƒ–Š‡†”ƒŽ‡ ‘–”‡ ƒ‡ †‡ Žƒ ƒ‹š
‹ ƒ‘—••‘—”‘ ƒ† ‘‘±
ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ƒ”ǡ ‘‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡
largest and oldest
™‹Ž†Ž‹ˆ‡ ”‡•‡”˜‡• ‹
the country.
One can only
hope that tourists
™‹ŽŽ ƒ‰ƒ‹ †‹•…‘˜‡”
the attractions of this
delightful piece of West
Africa and treat themselves
–‘ ƒ ˆ‡™ †ƒ›• ‹ „‹†Œƒǡ
‡Œ‘›‹‰ •—ǡ •ƒ†ǡ
adventure – and
ƒ ’Žƒ–‡ ‘” –™‘ ‘ˆ
ƪƒ‡Ǧ‰”‹ŽŽ‡†ǡ
spicy chicken.
ƪ‹‡•
–‘ „‹†Œƒ–Š”‡‡†ƒ›•ƒ
™‡‡ ˆ”‘
ƒ„‘

30. –‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽǡ
‘Šƒ‡•„—”‰Ǥ
DANCING
Le Privé Club: Boulevard
de Marseille
Butterfly Lounge: A jazz
bar in Zone 4. (Any taxi-
driver will know where to
take you)
SIGHT-SEEING
Belem Tours:
+225 0790 8035,
www.belem-tours.com
Afric Voyages:
Avenue Chardy
Immeuble Nour-al-Hayat,
+225 2030 3848,
www.africvoyages.com
St Paul’s Cathedral:
Lagunes
DINING
Chez Ambroise:
4 Rue F28, Marcory,
+225 0578 3600
The Coconut Grove
Restaurant Hotel:
+255 0707 0510,
miclo.bonafs@gmail.com
Saakan: Avenue Chardy,
Plateau, +225 2032
1358, www.saakan.com
Restaurant Aboussouan:
18 Angle Bd Giscard
d’Estaing, Avenue
Delafosse, Treichville,
+255 2124 5312,
www.restaurant-
aboussouan.com
SHOPPING
Cécile Fakhoury Gallery:
+ 225 2244 6677,
galerie@cecilefakhoury.
com
Marché Cava Artesanale:
Bietry, between the city
centre and the airport
Hypermarché Sococe:
Along the K125 in
Quartier Sodeci
ACCOMMODATION
Villa Anakao: II
Plateaux, Attoban,
+225 4974 2113,
www.villa-anakao.com
Villa Mia: Attoban Riviera
à Abidjan, Cocody,
+225 4723 4997, www.
villamia-abidjan.com
Tiama Hotel: Boulevard
de la République,
Abidjan Plateau,
+ 225 2031 3333,
www.hotel.tiama.ci
Hôtel Ivoire/Sofitel:
Boulevard Hassan II,
+225 2248 2626,
www.sofitel.com
Hôtel Particulier: Route
du Lycée Technique,
Rue B52, Cocody,
+225 2244 1616,
www.hotelparticulier-
abj.com
DISCOVERING ABIDJAN
‘ˆ –Š‡
his
West
emselves
‹†Œƒǡ
ǡ
GALLOIMAGES/GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
BELOW LEFT:
Open-air food
stalls are popular.
BELOW RIGHT:
A local food
vendor.
For use by louiseg@nationalpositions.com only. Distribution prohibited.