Written By: Jocelyn Salala
photo credit: hubpages.com
As the winter months slowly fade away and spring flowers begin to bloom, students, families, and tourists around the world search for a new and exciting vacation spot; a place where one can indulge in the beautiful scenery, gaze at the crystal clear blue water and experience an unforgettable culture. One place that is certainly a hot spot on the map is Ivory Coast’s Bouake Carnival.
Bouake is the second largest city in Cote d’Ivoire, and each year around the ending of March through the first week of April they host a week long carnival attracting thousands of visitors.
The Bouake Carnival is held at St. Michael’s Cathedral and is known as a celebration of life and friendship. Tourists and natives join together to enjoy great music, eat traditional foods, explore cultural markets and join in the well-known street parties and parades. This annual carnival includes a long line up of local artists and musicians that come from all over the continent of Africa to be a part of this celebration.
Carnivals offer everyone a dynamic tool of self-expression and a comfortable place for us to seek out our roots. It is a place where distinctive cultures are respected for their differences and praised for their similarities. But most importantly, it is an environment that unites not only the continent of Africa but also the entire world so that we can all celebrate our diversity. So if you are looking for a hot spot, or maybe even a little culture shock, you should definitely go and check out one of West Africa’s largest Carnivals, Bouake Carnival.
