| "> | | | | pro-Western policies, alongside African states as |
| One Land, Many Peoples | | | | Kenya, Senegal, and the Kingdom of Swaziland. Finally, |
| Arts & Media | | | | Amara Essy, the nation's former minister of Foreign |
| Did you know- The African nation of Cote d'Ivoire | | | | Relations, was one of the well-known international |
| was the first black republic in the world to win an | | | | leaders in the 1990s. Thus he was named president |
| Oscar, the world's most popular award. In early 1977, | | | | of the 49th Session of the United Nations General |
| surprisingly, the country's film "Black & White in | | | | Assembly. |
| Color" made the world headlines when it won an | | | | Languages |
| Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film in | | | | Did you know- The French is the official language, |
| Los Angeles, CA. It had been hand-picked by several | | | | but Cote d'Ivoire has a large non-French speaking |
| American experts. In addition, Cote d'Ivoire was one | | | | population (Dioula and other African dialects). Each |
| of the first non English-speaking nations to win the | | | | region of the nation has its own dialect. |
| American prize, ahead of Brazil and Argentina, as well | | | | Miss Universe |
| as India and South Korea. | | | | Did you know- Cote d'Ivoire made its Miss Universe |
| Former Ivory Coast | | | | debut in July 1986 when the country's delegate Marie |
| Did you know- Known as Ivory Coast until October | | | | Francoise Koume competed in Panama City, Panama. |
| 1985, it was one of sub-Saharan Africa's most stable | | | | Soccer |
| countries from 1960 to 1985, along with Botswana, | | | | Did you know- Without a doubt, under the leadership |
| Mauritius, Morocco, and Liberia. By that time, Cote | | | | of Didier Yves Drogba Tèbily, the national |
| d'Ivoire did not have military coups and civil conflicts. | | | | squad is one of Western Africa's most popular |
| In fact, unlike Cambodia and Zaire, it was one of the | | | | teams, alongside other squads like Ghana and Nigeria. |
| most peaceful French-speaking countries on the | | | | According to the results of the 2006 World Cup, |
| Planet. During the Cold War, it played a prominent | | | | Cote d'Ivoire ranks among the world's nineteen-best |
| role in African affairs. | | | | soccer teams, ahead of Poland and Saudi Arabia, as |
| Independence | | | | well as Japan. So far, Drogba is the most important |
| Did you know- It was part of the French Federation | | | | football player in the country. He hails from Abidjan. |
| of West Africa. After a 118-year French occupation, | | | | Soccer is a popular sport among adults and children. |
| the African nation gained its independence, with | | | | Marie-Thérèse Houphouet-Boigny |
| Félix Houphouet-Boigny as Head of State, in | | | | Did you know- Marie-Thérèse |
| the early 1960s. From then onwards, the country has | | | | Houphouet-Boigny, the country's Firs Lady from 1969 |
| strong diplomatic relations with Paris. | | | | to 1993,was one of Africa's most popular women in |
| Geography | | | | the latter half of the 20the century. During that |
| Did you know- Cote d'Ivoire covers about 124, 502 | | | | period of time, she was a promoter of national |
| square miles ( 322, 460 square kilometers), and has | | | | culture and an outspoken champion for children. |
| about 21 million people. This African state is | | | | Because of her elegance and perfect French, the |
| surrounded by Mali (former French colony) and | | | | international press dubbed her "The Jacqueline |
| Burkina Faso (Upper Volta until August 1984) to the | | | | Kennedy of Africa". |
| north, Ghana (a democratic nation since the 2000s) | | | | Yamoussoukro |
| to the west, Guinea (ex French territory) and Liberia | | | | Did you know- Yamoussoukro is home of Cote |
| (an independent nation since 1847) to the east, and | | | | d'Ivoire's capital. However, Abidjan -ex capital of the |
| the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Vast tropical forest | | | | country-- is the largest city. |
| cover much of the land there. Major river include the | | | | Economics |
| Sassandra, the Cavally, the Bardama, and the Comoe. | | | | Did you know- Over 70% of the nation's population |
| Summer Olympics | | | | depends on agriculture and tourism. Meanwhile, this |
| Did you know- The African nation is a member of | | | | French-speaking nation is one of the world's top |
| the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since the | | | | producers of cocoa. Recently, bananas and palm oil |
| 1960s. Athletes from Cote d'Ivoire have competed at | | | | have become significant crops as well. Otherwise, |
| the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games, 1968 Mexico City | | | | France is one of the two largest investors in Cote |
| Olympics, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 1988 Seoul | | | | d'Ivoire |
| Games, 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, 1996 Atlanta | | | | Gabriel Tiacoh |
| Games, 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Games, | | | | Did you know- Cote d'Ivoire is home to some African |
| and 2008 Beijing Olympics. | | | | champs, among them Gabriel Tiacoh, one of the |
| United Nations | | | | continent's top sprinters in the mid-1980s. This |
| Did you know- With its transformation to a modern | | | | legendary athlete won the country's first medal at |
| country, Cote d'Ivoire joined the United Nations in the | | | | the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA. |
| early 1960s. In the succeeding years, it became one | | | | Ethnic Groups |
| of the members of the UN Security Council | | | | Did you know- There are more than 60 ethnic |
| (1964-1965). In the meantime, between 1960 and | | | | groups in the country. |
| 1990,the republic was better known for its | | | | |