Abidjan, Ivory Coast » City Info

Abidjan is the largest city and the chief port of the country of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), located in the continent of Africa. Yamoussoukro is the official capital of the Ivory Coast. Still, Abidjan is the economic capital of the Ivory Coast and one of the most populous French-speaking cities in Africa. Abidjan is also known as the ''Paris of Africa''.

The city is situated on the Ébrié Lagoon, consisting of several peninsulas that are linked by bridges. The Ébrié Lagoon is separated from the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean by the Vridi Canal sandbar.

Today Abidjan's seaport is known for exporting coffee, cocoa, timber, bananas, pineapples, and manganese. The total area of Abidjan extends from the central administrative area to the industrial area in Petit-Bassam and the petroleum and mineral docks in the Vridi Canal.

Why the Name Abidjan?

The origin of the name Abidjan is an interesting story. It is said that an older man was returning home with wood branches in his hand, probably to repair his house's roof. On his way, he met a European traveller. When the traveller asked him the name of the nearest city, the older man got frightened and thought he was asking what he was doing there. He dropped his wood branches and began shouting, "min-chan m'bidjan", meaning - "I just cut the leaves". Thus the name Abidjan. The European traveller thought this was the name of the city.