IVORY COAST: Ebrie community initiates new leaders in a special ceremony performed once every 20 years

Record ID: 181674

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Ebrie community initiates new leaders in a special ceremony performed once every 20 years
  • Date: 18th September 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) WARRIOR, ABEL DANHO, SAYING: "If you live in the village with those who are from the village, you can find a way to be a part of this generation. And depending on your age, you can figure out which group to join."
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2008 13:00
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  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABJ9WUD7BA209YGJ5HM6F7T6ML
  • Story Text: Once every 20 years, a younger generation takes up the lead from the elder generation of Ivory Coast's Ebrie community, on the Abidjan shore. In a colourful march featuring songs and dance, hundreds of community members celebrate the initiation of the new leading group, led by a chief warrior.
    The Ebrie, the original indigenous population of Abidjan living along the Ebrie lagoon in the southern shores of Ivory Coast, hold every 20 years an initiation ceremony to pass on the leadership of their community to a younger generation.
    Hundreds of community members take to the streets of Abidjan in the "festival of Generations", to watch and follow a younger group, led by a warrior, as it is demonstrating its unity and strength in a colourful march.
    This year, the Tchagba -- a group of people born between 1959 and 1976 -- is taking the lead from the elder Dougbo.

    "This celebration does not mean that we want to take over power, but this celebration means that we are capable to lead tomorrow or even in 20 years time" said Phillipe Adja, President of the Atchan youth movement.
    Each generation designates a warrior to lead as its chief. The warrior is being put in charge of the group in utmost secrecy at a very young age.
    Only a few months before the initiation ceremony, his identity is revealed. During those months, he prepares a dance that is meant to give him the powers to help him implement his responsibilities.
    Wearing nothing but red loincloths and their bodies covered in kaolin, the new leading generation emerges in a street walk, led by the chief. He is distinguished from others by sporting a small cap decorated with cowry shells and mirrors. Protected by other members of his generation, he performs the Warrior Dance.

    "Not everyone is allowed to be near the warrior. We are here because we are chosen to protect the warrior and ultimately, we are trained to look out for any traps. That is how we protect the warrior, which allows him to move forward and we look out for him for any traps with fetishes, "
    said Mathurin Diby, a warrior, chosen to protect the chief warrior.
    Accompanied by the drum beats and the war cries of his companions, the chief warrior shows off his dancing skills, followed by the women of the Tchagba age group. They're singing and carrying photos of those from their generation who had died and could not celebrate the occasion.

    "If you live in the village with those who are from the village, you can find a way to be part of this generation. And depending on your age, you can figure out which group to join," said Abel Danho, another warrior.
    The last Festival of Generations took place in 1988 and the next generation, the Bressoue, will come to power in 2028.
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