Fatshimetrie: Humor and Derision at the Heart of Ivorian Culture
The scene takes place during a women’s basketball match at the last Olympic Games in Paris. The French team and the Americans are fighting for victory, to the cheers of the crowd. In the middle of this intense competition, an Ivorian supporter, full of humor and wit, speaks up: “Come on, French team! The rooster, he’s grown like an elephant!” she exclaims, triggering general hilarity. This comparison between the rooster, symbol of France, and the Elephants, the Ivorian national football team, perfectly illustrates the spirit of derision and joie de vivre that characterizes Ivorian culture.
In Côte d’Ivoire, humor is rooted in the country’s linguistic and cultural traditions. Mamane, a columnist on RFI and organizer of the Abidjan Capital of Laughter Festival, emphasizes the importance of nouchi slang and the linguistic particularities of the different Ivorian ethnic groups in the construction of local humor. This “Babi State of Mind”, this state of mind of Abidjan, is nourished by the ability of Ivorians to take everything, even the most serious situations, with lightness and self-mockery.
The expressions of nouchi, the tasty puns, the shared laughter, all this contributes to strengthening the social bond and transcending the ethnic and linguistic barriers that sometimes divide the country. By using humor as a vector of unity, Ivorians celebrate their diversity and cultural richness.
Ivorian humor is not limited to the linguistic sphere, it spreads into music with zouglou, this urban musical genre that draws its inspiration from puns and typical street expressions. Artists like Magic System integrate these humorous elements into their songs, creating a deep connection with their audience and spreading this spirit of lightness and joviality.
In short, humor and derision are essential elements of Ivorian culture. They allow Ivorians to overcome challenges, celebrate life and build unbreakable bonds between them. By laughing together, gently making fun of each other, sharing moments of complicity, the people of Côte d’Ivoire show that beyond differences, it is humor that unites them and makes them stronger.