ABSTRACT
The Ivory Coast is located on the south coast of West Africa, bordered by Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Gulf of Guinea. The Ivory Coast has a growing population of 28.1 million people, the majority of which live on the southern coast, in cities along the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the country’s northern areas remain more sparsely populated. The population comprises several ethnic groups, including Akan, Voltaique/Gur, Northern Mande, Kru, Southern Mande, and some groups that are non-Ivorian. The population is equally religiously diverse: the majority are Muslim, followed by Catholic, Evangelical, Methodist, Christian, and animist. French is the official language and is most commonly spoken; there are also 60-plus native dialects. Music is an important part of the culture in the Ivory Coast, and various instruments and songs are used to share historical stories.
