Published by Malika éditions and sponsored by the Bank of Africa Group, “Abidjan” is the third coffee-table book born from the “Nid d’artistes” collection. This work highlights more than eighty artists and intellectuals from the contemporary, Ivorian and African cultural scene.
After “Casablanca”, “Dakar”, “Abidjan” is the third coffee-table book born from the “Nid D’Artistes” collection, published by Malika éditions. Produced with the support of the Bank of Africa Group, this work is an emotional walk through an enchanting and inspiring metropolis, seen and experienced by more than eighty artists and intellectuals from the contemporary, Ivorian and African cultural scene. “After Dakar, it is Abidjan’s turn to be highlighted in this work. Abidjan, the cosmopolitan Ivorian megacity, an ambitious socio-cultural hub in West Africa, a true ode to cultural and human diversity, a pearl of the lagoons and a hymn to its desire for grandeur,” we read in the editorial of ‘Othman Benjelloun, president of the Bank of Africa Group.
Indeed, the work brings together visual artists, photographers, designers, stylists, writers, musicians, dancers, slammers… all share their emotions and memories that bind them to their chosen city. “This beautiful book is a tribute to the cultural effervescence of a multidisciplinary and creative city captured through the eye of photographer Ricky Lavern Martin, this beautiful book is also a precious archive, a living memory of the one we call Babi joy, inexhaustible palette of colors, words and emotions,” says the publisher. Between texts and works of art, “Abidjan Nid D’Artistes” invites us to an original and poetic exploration of the coastal city of Ivory Coast.
Prefaced by Véronique Tadjo, this book brings together, among others, Aboudia, Désiré Amani, Amee Slam, Mamadou ballo, Didier Bilé, Adama Dahico Aicha Fal, Famas, Nadia Beugré and others. “Abidjan is first of all the tumultuous sea which presses against its sides and its port, a gateway to elsewhere, an opening to all influences. The backbone of its economy, its life force. Large ships arrive from all over the world to unload their goods and leave with their holds full. Ambitious and conquering city. But it is also, on the other side, a city caressed by the lagoon. Feet in the water, an air of serenity knowing how to use its charm and hide its imperfections.
She whispers her hopes to the passing of time, and she dances, transforms, gets lost, finds herself again,” we read in the text of the preface. And to add: “… Evolves like an organism which grows and increases by successive leaps. We cannot impose on him to be anything other than his deep nature. Everything here is changing. All at the same time. The city hides, hides, conceals itself under an architectural and social modernity which fascinates, sometimes making one dizzy…”.
