History of Ivory Coast

The history of Côte d’Ivoire spans precolonial societies, French colonial rule, independence in 1960, and the republic’s changing political and social order.

Connect

French conquest of Côte d’Ivoire: The establishment of French colonial control over territories that became Côte d’Ivoire, completed in the early twentieth century. Conquest brought the precolonial kingdoms and communities under French administration.
Cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire: The cultivation and export of cocoa, which made Côte d’Ivoire the world’s largest cocoa producer. Cocoa exports fueled growth while making the economy vulnerable to price swings.
Baoulé people: An Akan-speaking people of central Côte d’Ivoire, historically associated with the Baoulé kingdom. Baoulé institutions and migration shaped central Côte d’Ivoire before and during French expansion.
Félix Houphouët-Boigny: The first president of Côte d’Ivoire, who led the country from independence in 1960 until his death in 1993. His long presidency defined the republic’s early political order and economic strategy.
History of Ghana: The history of the modern state of Ghana and the societies that preceded it. Ghana’s earlier independence offers a contrast with Côte d’Ivoire’s French colonial path.
Ivory Coast independence: The end of French colonial rule and establishment of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in 1960. Independence began the republic’s postcolonial political history.
Forced labour in French West Africa: Colonial systems that compelled Africans to work on public projects and private enterprises in French West Africa. Forced labor supported infrastructure and extraction under French rule.
Akan states: Historical states and political communities formed by Akan-speaking peoples in West Africa. Akan migrations and political traditions influenced societies in southeastern Côte d’Ivoire.
Henri Konan Bédié: An Ivorian politician who served as president from 1993 to 1999 and promoted the doctrine of Ivoirité. His presidency brought Ivoirité to the center of national politics.
History of Burkina Faso: The history of Burkina Faso, including its precolonial states, French rule, and postcolonial politics. Migration between the two countries became central to Ivorian labor and citizenship debates.