Côte d'Ivoire

In the villages of Côte d’Ivoire, dusk often arrives to the sound of drums. The low thrum of the djembe, the ringing notes of the balafon, and the liquid tones of the kora rise into the evening air, summoning dancers and onlookers alike. These gatherings—sometimes part of festivals, sometimes woven into the fabric of daily life—form the pulse of the country’s living heritage. Music and dance here are more than performance; they are vehicles for memory. The rhythms trace agricultural seasons, rites of passage, and moments of communal decision-making. Each pattern on the drum, each step in a dance, holds layers of meaning recognizable to those who have grown up...