Abengourou

Abengourou is the seat of the Indénié, an Agni kingdom that traces its origin to a migration from Ashanti country in the eighteenth century, and the king's palace stands in the centre of town with a museum holding regalia, gold ornament, stools and staffs. The court still functions and audiences are held. The surrounding country is cocoa, and Abengourou is one of the trading centres of the eastern belt.

Background

Abengourou is the seat of both the Comoé District and the Indénié-Djuablin Region, and it is also a commune and a sub-prefecture. The sub-prefecture covers 757 square kilometres and counted 164,424 people in the 2021 census, up from 135,635 in 2014, when the city itself had 100,910. The residence of the King of Indénié was built in 1882. The name is traced to the Akan expression 'n'pé kro', meaning 'I don't like long discussions'. The town has an airport, the largest hospital of the interior, an agricultural vocational training institute and a research station for cocoa and coffee. It is also the seat of a Roman Catholic diocese.

Source: Wikipedia, "Abengourou"

Highlights

• The royal palace - the seat of the Indénié kingdom in the centre of town.
• The regalia - gold ornament, stools and staffs in the palace museum.
• The Agni court - a functioning traditional court with regular audiences.
• The cocoa country - the plantations the region's economy runs on.

When to go

November to February is the dry season and the most comfortable. Palace visits should be arranged in advance. The rains from June to October are heavy in the east.

Things to know

Palace access depends on the court's schedule and cannot be assumed. Photography inside is generally not permitted. The town itself has little else for visitors.

Nearby

Bondoukou is northeast, and Abidjan is southwest.

Key facts