Ivorian Cuisine Festival: Kong’s Call to Preserve Flavors and Create Wealth

The fourth National Ivorian Cuisine Festival ended in Kong on October 17, 2026, with a call to make gastronomy a cultural, economic and diplomatic asset for Côte d’Ivoire. Tourism and Leisure Minister Siandou Fofana said Ivorian cuisine could become an instrument of national soft power, while Kong Mayor Abdrahamane Berté emphasized its role in preserving heritage and promoting tourism. Raoul Marcel Ohoueu championed cuisine as a destination’s signature, and Dr. Fagama Klo announced a planned directory of around 50 dishes. Bouaké ranked first in traditional cuisine, ahead of Man and San Pedro; in modern cuisine, Yamoussoukro led San Pedro and Bouaké.