It is very difficult to know the date of the first human in Ivory Coast because of the difficulty to find old bones. In fact, the wet climate of this country destroyed the bones but according to the discover of many fragments of tools, several scientists think that the first people were there approximately between 15000 and 10000 years ago.
The Portuguese were the first colonists in Ivory Coast and the first people who began the slavery there. Even if they were there just for a few years, French colonists arrived in the country in 1893 and took their place. They continued the slavery but introduced in the country many plantations and a culture of coffee.
Furious about the bad behavior of the French people, Ivory Coast citizens began a revolution at the beginning of the 1900's. So the country took its independence on the 7th of August, 1960 with Felix Houphouet-Boigny as its democratic government first president.
After its independence, Ivory Coast's economy began to be prosperous because of its good agriculture which put the country in the top 10 of the best country of West Africa. By 1990, after the death of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the first president, many economic problems began.
Ivory Coast is also one of the most diverse countries of Africa because of its ethnic diversity. In fact, the country has more than 60 ethnic groups who live in one of the four major regions of the country: the Akan , the Krou, the Mande and the Gour. Also each ethnic group originated from a country near Ivory Coast and has its own specific art. This special aspect of Ivory Coast will be very important in your study because in one country you will learn about many other countries cultures.
