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From fishing village to metropolis: How did Abidjan rise so quickly during the colonial era?
Abidjan, once just a small fishing village, has now become the largest city and economic center of Côte d'Ivoire. The rise of this city is inextricably linked to its prosperity and development during the colonial era. Since French colonists chose to move here in 1896 due to yellow fever, the city's history has begun to be intertwined with great changes, and the lives of white people and local residents are playing out a Greek tragic fate here.
Local traditional stories suggest that the origin of the name Abidjan is a misunderstanding.
Abidjan was originally a small fishing village called Atchan. In 1896, French colonists chose Abidjan as their new settlement because of a series of deadly diseases. In 1903 it was officially incorporated as a town and subsequently became the colony's third capital in 1934. During this process, Abidjan started a wave of industrialization and urbanization, and gradually replaced nearby Bingerville to become an important hub of the colonial economy.
Cities are not only the result of commercial development, but also the place where cultures converge.
Abidjan's rapid expansion was closely linked to the construction of a new dock in 1931. Subsequently, the completion of the Vridi Canal in 1949 further consolidated Abidjan's status as a seaport. Although the city's structure was planned in a grid pattern at that time, different areas carried the cultural differences between the colonists and the local residents. The north was mainly inhabited by colonists, while the south was inhabited by the colonized. This obvious difference reflected the complexity and inequality of the colonial social structure.
Prosperity and Change in the Colonial Era
Abidjan became the financial centre of West Africa shortly after the construction of important infrastructure in 1950. The economic boom experienced during this period attracted a large number of immigrants, which accelerated the urbanization process. The city's skyline underwent dramatic changes in the decades following independence, growing from a population of 180,000 in 1960 to 1,269,000 in 1978. These emerging commercial areas, such as Cocody, became residences for foreign diplomats and the Ivorian wealthy.
Abidjan's skyline bears witness to the rapid growth of the local economy.
However, Abidjan's prosperity took a toll with corruption and official dereliction of duty in the 1980s. In 1983, with the transfer of the political center from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro, the city's political importance was affected, but its position as an economic center remained consolidated. The subsequent civil war further undermined the city's prosperity, and Abidjan experienced severe social unrest and economic decline, particularly during the civil war in the early 2000s and the subsequent political crisis.
Contemporary Developments and Future Challenges
Despite past conflict and instability that have affected the city's functioning, Abidjan has shown potential for recovery. With the advancement of international cooperation and internal reforms, the city has the potential to rise again. The city's infrastructure is being updated, and its geographical location and economic potential make it an important destination for investment.
Abidjan has become a crossroads of culture and economy, and its story is still being written.
As the impact of climate change becomes increasingly apparent, Abidjan's future sustainable development also faces challenges. It is estimated that cities will face significant risk of sea level rise by 2050 and may need to take appropriate adaptation measures to protect their future. This series of changes makes us reflect on how the next history of Abidjan will develop?
