Biankouma
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Biankouma

Biankouma

Old Dan village north of Man, associated with the Goua acrobatic dance tradition.

About 40 km north of Man on the road to Touba, Biankouma is an old Dan village best visited on Sundays when the Goua acrobatic dance performers may be active. The old town has painted houses decorated in Dan geometric patterns, a house of the initiated women, and fetish houses tied to the community's spiritual life. Before entering you should ask permission from the village chief, and never photograph fetish objects. Mont Sângbé National Park, 95,000 hectares of forest north of town, lies nearby for those with a vehicle and a guide.

There is a hotel here (Hotel du Mont Sangbé), but you may want to base yourself in Gouessesso instead.

Guide

Getting There

Biankouma is about 40 km north of Man on a road that continues to Touba. From Man, shared taxis (bush taxis) make the run regularly and the journey takes about an hour depending on road conditions. The road is paved for most of its length but can deteriorate in the rainy season.

There is no direct transport from Abidjan to Biankouma; the approach is always via Man, which is itself best reached by bus from Abidjan (the overnight bus is the standard option) or by flying into Man Airport on Air Côte d'Ivoire.

Guide

Things to Do

Biankouma is a small Dan village in the mountains of western Ivory Coast, best visited on a Sunday when the Goua acrobatic dance performers may be active. The old town's decorated houses and the proximity to Mont Sângbé National Park are the other draws. A visit requires some patience and cultural sensitivity — ask permission from the village chief before exploring, and never photograph fetish objects.