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NEWS
49TH
YEAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
The driving force behind
that dedication being to throw a party reflective of the spirit
of all Ivorians, spirit that can be characterized by the
joyfulness and the desire to offer their guests of that night a
memorable spectacle.
The stage chosen was the Best Western River’s Edge located in
Tukwila, a town 20 mins away from Seattle.
From the sitting of the guests and members of the community that
started around 7:30 pm, the opportunity was given to Amadou
Toure President of IVOIRE UNION to extend the traditional
Ivorian Akwaba to all…and express IVOIRE UNION’s goals and
objectives and the challenges facing the organization.
The National Anthem of the host country the USA, the Star
Spangled Banner, was then played, followed by l’Abidjanaise, the
National Anthem of the Ivory Coast that describes the country as
a land of hope which is indicative of the positive attitude of
its people.
The lines started forming soon after alongside the tables that
had all variety of foods from the Ivory Coast, like the
“attieke’ some type of cassavas couscous, the fried bananas
plantains, the barbecued chicken and some fried rice with fish
and lamb…and many others dishes from the western part of Africa.
While people were enjoying those wonderful meals, they were also
enjoying a movie projection of some of the achievements and
economic progresses of the Ivory Coast.
Then followed the traditional dance from the Northern part of
the Ivory Coast, performed admirably with the ladies dressed in
some colorful traditional Malinke Boubou and some beautiful head
wraps. The hall “erupted” as they were performing those gracious
steps with elegance and grace.
From the Northern part, came the traditional Yacouba dance
performed by Marcelle and Yolande with that wonderful song bit
that represents the signature of that region. The attire and the
T-Shirts made of the colors of the Ivorian flag were one of the
many highlights of the celebration.
The fashion show came last, under the huge applause of the
entire assembly. This was a wonderful showcase of what the Ivory
Coast has to offer culturally. It was a splendid show with both
the men and women dressed in the latest fashion.
The dance floor could then be opened to the entire public and
people never left the floor. Meanwhile the guests from Cameroon
kept challenging the Ivorians to a dance contest - a soccer
rivalry transported to a dance floor.
It was a joyful ambiance, synonymous with the friendly, always
welcoming, good nature of the Ivorians that can be encountered
throughout the nation…A nation whose hopes for a better future
has never been as strong as it is approaching the 50th Year of
its Independence. A milestone, I am sure will be celebrated with
a greater fest than this one.
A special report from Marie Lajoliego
At the Best Western in Tukwila,
Washington State, USA.
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