Wedding traditions of Abidjan
A lagoon city where the dot, the traditional dowry ceremony, comes before the church or mosque wedding.
Ivory Coast has more than sixty ethnic groups. Many urban families hold three ceremonies: the dot, a traditional dowry meeting between families, then a civil marriage at the town hall, and a religious wedding. The dot is sometimes held in the home village.
A wedding here
Elders from the groom's family come with spokesmen and present items such as cloth, drinks and money. The bride's family accepts them after a playful negotiation. Dancers perform the zouglou and coupe-decale at the party.
Law and change
Civil marriage is the only legally recognised marriage, and polygamy was banned in 1964. The minimum age is 18 for both since reforms.
Wedding customs of Abidjan
Also part of it, and being written: Baoulé people (A major community.), Zouglou (The popular music.), Coupé-décalé (The dance music.).
A wedding trail idea for Abidjan
- Marche de Treichville A busy market.
- Cathedral of Saint Paul, Abidjan A modern cathedral.
- Hotel Ivoire A hotel used for receptions.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Dowry: Vassili Vladimirovich Pukiryov, Public domain, source