		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="109460728"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><h1><span style="color:#8f0707;"><em>&#8216;Remembering the dark days&#8217;</em></span><br />
<span style="color:#8f0707;"> Ivorian tribe acts out harrowing scenes harking back to colonial rule as carnival comes to town</span></h1>
<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
<li class="">
<h2><span style="color:#c28108;"><strong>The Popo Carnival in Bonoua is the Ivorian&#8217;s version of Mardi Gras and runs for a week in the east of Abidjan</strong></span></h2>
</li>
<li class="">
<h2><span style="color:#c28108;"><strong>Popo translates as &#8216;mask,&#8217; allowing participants to design their own bright and colourful decorations</strong></span></h2>
</li>
<li class="">
<h2><span style="color:#c28108;"><strong>Men from the Aboure tribe present war dances for generations and play out cruel scenes from colonial rule</strong></span></h2>
</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6244" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307852e00000578-0-image-a-28_1460304215929.jpg" alt="3307852e00000578-0-image-a-28_1460304215929" width="962" height="653" />These scenes depict some of the harrowing experiences the Aboure people had when Ivory Coast was under French Colonial rule</strong></h5>
<p class="mol-para-with-font">Re-enacting scenes from when the country was under French Colonial rule, these fascinating photographs show Ivorians showing off their culture in the annual Popo Carnival.<br />
The carnival in Bonoua is the Ivorian&#8217;s version of Mardi Gras and runs for a week in the east of Abidjan. It one of the most well-attended events in the Ivory Coast.<br />
Derived from at first a celebration of the cultural heritage of the Aboure people, the Popo Carnival involves gastronomic competitions, Miss pageants, sports days, a festival of traditional dances and reflection workshops among other activities.</p>
<div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow wp-amp-block wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__autoplay wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__autoplay-playing" id="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__1"><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper"><amp-carousel width="962" height="641" layout="responsive" type="slides" data-next-button-aria-label="Next Slide" data-prev-button-aria-label="Previous Slide" controls loop autoplay delay=3000 id="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__amp-carousel__1" on="slideChange:wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__amp-pagination__1.toggle(index=event.index, value=true)"><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="962" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693e700000578-3532700-image-a-66_1460305888832.jpg?fit=962%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="911" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307840100000578-0-image-a-30_1460304407875.jpg?fit=911%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="876" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307791000000578-0-image-a-35_1460304663024.jpg?fit=876%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="962" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306934f00000578-3532700-image-a-62_1460305779303.jpg?fit=962%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="439" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306946f00000578-0-image-m-42_1460304793803.jpg?fit=439%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="858" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306929300000578-3532700-image-a-55_1460305275138.jpg?fit=858%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="944" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307852e00000578-0-image-a-28_1460304215929.jpg?fit=944%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="927" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307734900000578-0-image-a-50_1460304884081.jpg?fit=927%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="962" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306935800000578-3532700-image-a-57_14603052797461.jpg?fit=962%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="940" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077d3b00000578-3532700-image-a-52_1460305265384.jpg?fit=940%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="903" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077e3b00000578-3532700-image-a-58_1460305286462.jpg?fit=903%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="881" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693db00000578-3532700-image-a-64_1460305787522.jpg?fit=881%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="895" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33076d8800000578-0-image-a-49_1460304879637.jpg?fit=895%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="933" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693f300000578-0-image-a-46_1460304874048.jpg?fit=933%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="930" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077c8e00000578-0-image-a-44_1460304868166.jpg?fit=930%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide"><figure><img width="887" height="641" src="https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306928900000578-3532700-image-a-60_1460305772597.jpg?fit=887%2C641&;ssl=1" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image" alt="" object-fit="contain" /></figure></div></amp-carousel><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button" on="tap:wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__amp-carousel__1.toggleAutoplay(toggleOn=false),wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__1.toggleClass(class=wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__autoplay-playing,force=false)"></a><a aria-label="Play Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-play" role="button" on="tap:wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__amp-carousel__1.toggleAutoplay(toggleOn=true),wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__1.toggleClass(class=wp-block-jetpack-slideshow__autoplay-playing,force=true)"></a><div class="swiper-pagination-simple">1 / 16</div></div></div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<div class="mol-img">
<div class="image-wrap fff-pic">
<div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery">
<h5 class="imageCaption"><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6250" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307840100000578-0-image-a-30_1460304407875.jpg" alt="3307840100000578-0-image-a-30_1460304407875" width="962" height="677" />This man plays the part of servant, forced into carrying his master by hammock, as another senior whips him into action</strong></h5>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<p class="imageCaption"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6254" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330773e300000578-0-image-a-33_1460304414869.jpg" alt="330773e300000578-0-image-a-33_1460304414869" width="962" height="642" /></p>
</div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<h5 class="imageCaption">Young girls from the Aboure ethnic group attend one of the parades during the Popo Carnival in Bonoua<strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6257" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307791000000578-0-image-a-35_1460304663024.jpg" alt="3307791000000578-0-image-a-35_1460304663024" width="962" height="704" />Young men from the Aboure ethnic group present a war dance for generations celebrations</strong></h5>
</div>
<p>Popo translates as &#8216;mask,&#8217; allowing participants to design their own bright and colourful decorations to take part in the parades.Young men from the Aboure tribe present war dances for generations, while they also re-enact scenes of forced labor in the days of the colonial period.</p>
<div>
<p class="mol-para-with-font">These performances bring back particularly harrowing memories for many &#8211; men cower on the floor as those who play the parts of the taskmasters stand over them with batons and sticks at hand, ready to strike.<br />
The girls and women of the ethnic group also get involved in acting out some of the past, as they walk through the streets half-naked.</p>
</div>
<h5 class="imageCaption"><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6262" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077c8e00000578-0-image-a-44_1460304868166.jpg" alt="33077c8e00000578-0-image-a-44_1460304868166" width="962" height="663" />Faces are somewhat sterner in this photos, as the men from the Aboure perform the war dance complete with weapons</strong></h5>
<p class="imageCaption"><img class=" size-full wp-image-6265 alignright" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693ee00000578-0-image-a-43_1460304799905.jpg" alt="330693ee00000578-0-image-a-43_1460304799905" width="470" height="687" /></p>
<div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<p class="imageCaption">The carnival of Bonoua is the Ivorian&#8217;s version of Mardi Gras running for a week, offering locals the chance to dress for the occasion</p>
</div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<div class="mol-img"></div>
<p class="imageCaption"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6272" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693f300000578-0-image-a-46_1460304874048.jpg" alt="330693f300000578-0-image-a-46_1460304874048" width="962" height="661" /></p>
<h5 class="imageCaption">An Ivorian takes part in a parade on the last day of the 35th Popo Carnival in Bonoua, around 40 miles south of Abidjan, Ivory Coast<strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6274" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33076d8800000578-0-image-a-49_1460304879637.jpg" alt="33076d8800000578-0-image-a-49_1460304879637" width="962" height="689" /></strong><strong>Young girls from the Aboure ethnic group join the line to re-enact some of the culture and tradition of their background</strong></h5>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="mol-para-with-font">The Ivory Coast officially became a French colony on March 10, 1893. Slavery was eventually abolished in 1905, but it wasn&#8217;t until 1958 that the country became an autonomous republic within the French Community as a result of a referendum. Ivory Coast became independent on August 7, 1960.</p>
</div>
<div>
<h5 class="mol-para-with-font"><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6277" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3307734900000578-0-image-a-50_1460304884081.jpg" alt="3307734900000578-0-image-a-50_1460304884081" width="962" height="665" />Despite some aspects of the festival remembering some of the harsher aspects of their background, there is still opportunities for those involved to celebrate their culture</strong></h5>
<h5 class="imageCaption"><strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6281" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077d3b00000578-3532700-image-a-52_1460305265384.jpg" alt="33077d3b00000578-3532700-image-a-52_1460305265384" width="962" height="656" />The carnival in the Ivory Coast is one of the most well attended events in the country where the young and old can get involved</strong></h5>
<h5 class="imageCaption"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6284" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306929300000578-3532700-image-a-55_1460305275138.jpg" alt="3306929300000578-3532700-image-a-55_1460305275138" width="962" height="719" />The Popo Carnival involves gastronomic competitions, Miss pageants, sports days, a festival of traditional dances and reflection workshops <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6287" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306935800000578-3532700-image-a-57_14603052797461.jpg" alt="3306935800000578-3532700-image-a-57_14603052797461" width="962" height="641" />These fascinating photographs show Ivorians showing off their culture in the annual Popo Carnival<strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6290" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/33077e3b00000578-3532700-image-a-58_1460305286462.jpg" alt="33077e3b00000578-3532700-image-a-58_1460305286462" width="962" height="683" />People take pictures of a young girl from the Aboure ethnic group attending a parade</strong></h5>
<div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery">
<div class="mobile-gallery-icon"></div>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6293" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306928900000578-3532700-image-a-60_1460305772597.jpg" alt="3306928900000578-3532700-image-a-60_1460305772597" width="962" height="695" /></p>
</div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<div class="mol-img">
<h5 class="image-wrap fff-pic">Customs and traditions are celebrated in the carnival, which bursts onto the streets with fire and an array of colour<strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6297" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/3306934f00000578-3532700-image-a-62_1460305779303.jpg" alt="3306934f00000578-3532700-image-a-62_1460305779303" width="962" height="641" />This participant is perhaps working up the courage to meet fire as hundred watch the colourful procession<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6299" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693db00000578-3532700-image-a-64_1460305787522.jpg" alt="330693db00000578-3532700-image-a-64_1460305787522" width="962" height="700" />Popo translates as &#8216;mask,&#8217; allowing participants to design their own bright and colourful decorations to take part in the parades</strong></h5>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<p class="imageCaption"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6302" src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/330693e700000578-3532700-image-a-66_1460305888832.jpg" alt="330693e700000578-3532700-image-a-66_1460305888832" width="962" height="641" /></p>
</div>
<div class="image-wrap fff-pic"></div>
<div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter">
<p class="imageCaption">The festival originally started off as a showcase of the culture and traditions of the Aboure people, but now it is an important national event that is in its 35th year</p>
</div>
</div>
<h5><strong><em>Lets us know what you think of this article. Like? Dislike? Funny? Interesting? Cool? Drop us a line in the comment box or join us on facebook and twitter to help us give you a better reading experience</em> </strong></h5>

Colorful Scenes From The Ivorian Mardi Gras: Ivorian tribe acts out harrowing scenes harking back to colonial rule as carnival comes to town
