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For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

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Ivory Coast Does Not Exist, Her Name is Cote d'Ivoire

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What’s in a name?

Ivory Coast name changed in 1986 to Cote d'Ivoire.

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Foreign overseas traders and exporters solely according to the business and trade economies roughly divided Africa into four coasts; Pepper Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast and the Slave Coast.

The French named the African country of Côte d'Ivoire which literally means Ivory Coast. Côte d'Ivoire was unofficially known as Costa do Marfim and côte des dents or the teeth coast; Ivory Coast reflects the trade in ivory.

The area that became the Ivory Coast on August 7, 1960, previously had been under French sovereignty. The state’s name changed from Ivory Coast to Cote D’Ivoire in 1986.

In 1986, the African government of Côte d'Ivoire declared the République de Côte d'Ivoire to be its formal name, and country must always be referred to by the French name. 

Despite this request by the government, the African country of Côte d'Ivoire is still incorrectly referred to as Ivory Coast for over 30 years.

The Nationality of Côte d'Ivoire citizens is Ivoirian. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998. 

The latest estimates from 2012 place the foreign population of Côte d'Ivoire at nearly 22% and a median age of 20 years old.

For the nation known today as Côte d’Ivoire, this was a significant matter. In 1986, the Ivorian government officially asserted their identity on the global stage by declaring their country’s name to be Côte d’Ivoire in all languages, rejecting the colonial-era term Ivory Coast. This decision was not merely semantic it was a deliberate act of reclaiming their narrative from a time when their identity was reduced to trade.

Côte d'Ivoire is French for Ivory Coast however using the English word Ivory denotes the county is a commodity in the former slave trade instead of an African country with life and energy. By honoring the name Côte d’Ivoire, we acknowledge the nation’s history, culture, and independence, recognizing it as it defines itself, rather than as it was once labeled by others.What’s in a name? The power of a name and its value is immeasurable.

Cocoa, oil, and coffee are Cote d'Ivoire top export revenue earners.


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.