Moving westwards, towards the border with Liberia, the cocoa and hevea (rubber tree) plantations and palm groves give way to the intense green of the tropical forest. Tall trees tower above the surrounding landscape and the vegetation becomes increasingly dense.
This lush nature is the backdrop to the city of Man, the so-called ‘city of 18 mountains’, which owes its name to the striking reliefs that enliven its urban fabric. Man, inhabited by more than 80,000 people, mostly from the Dan (or Yacouba) group, with a waterfall within walking distance of the city centre, a forest populated by sacred monkeys, and lively neighbourhoods animated by craft shops and markets, offers unusual and evocative scenery.
But the real strength of this region are the characteristic villages that dot the surrounding area. Villages where the inhabitants are custodians of ancient traditions handed down from generation to generation through elaborate initiation rituals.
Here, masks are the dominant feature and represent the link between the world of humans and the magic of an “elsewhere” where spirits and ancestors reside, ready to manifest themselves during the frequent ritual ceremonies involving the entire village population. The tam-tam of the drums, the chants of the women and the cries of the initiates invoke the masks secretly kept in the heart of the sacred forests, and these, coming out into the open in a pre-established order, begin to dance.
In this special departure, you will participate in the Masks of Man Festival (Festival des 18 montagnes): www.festival18montagnes.com
Day 1 : Wednesday 03 July 2024
Outward flight/Abidjan (ABJ)
Day 2 : Thursday 04 July 2024
Abidjan (ABJ)/Domestic flight/Man (MJC)
Arrival in the “city of 18 mountains”, visit of the waterfalls and monkey sighting, before the opening of the Festival.
Day 3 : Friday 05 July 2024
Man/Yacouba Villages/Man (Festival)
Straw and mud villages and masks on Yacouba stilts, before watching the Festival performances and events.
Day 4 : Saturday, 06 July 2024
Man/Dan Villages/Man (Festival)
On the mystical Dan liana bridges, before attending the Festival performances and events.
Day 5 : Sunday 07 July 2024
Man/Wé Villages/Man
Performance by the “jongleurs de l’Ouest” and meeting with the Gueré masks.
Day 6 : Monday 08 July 2024
Man/Yamoussokro
The cocoa plantations and the impressive Yamoussokro basilica.
Day 7 : Tuesday 09 July 2024
Yamoussokro/Baulé Villages/Yamoussoukro
The production of attieké, handicrafts and the Goly masks of the Baulé.
Day 8 : Wednesday 10 July 2024
Yamoussokro/Aniassué/Abengourou
The komian dances and the reign of the Agni Indenié.
Day 9 : Thursday 11 July 2024
Abengourou/Abidjan/Grand Bassam
The skyline of cosmopolitan Abidjan and the sunset on the beach at Grand Bassam.
Day 10 : Friday 12 July 2024
Grand Bassam/Abidjan
The colonial vestiges in the “quartier de France” in Grand Bassam and the arts and crafts ateliers.
Day 11 : Saturday 13 July 2024
Abidjan (ABJ)/Return Flight
There are no extensions for this tour, please contact us at info@kanaga-at.com.
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