Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire

The national museum in Plateau holds the country's main ethnographic collection, built up from 1942: masks from the Dan, Guro, Senufo, Baoulé and Yaouré, gold weights and regalia from the Akan kingdoms, statuary, weaving, pottery and musical instruments. The collection suffered losses during the unrest of the 2000s and some pieces were recovered. It remains the single best place to see the range of Ivorian carving and to make sense of what turns up in the craft markets.

What you actually see

• The mask collection - Dan, Guro, Senufo, Baoulé and Yaouré work in one place.
• The Akan gold - weights and regalia from the eastern kingdoms.
• The statuary - figures from across the country's carving traditions.
• The instruments - drums, balafons and other traditional instruments.

When to go

Year round; the museum keeps weekday hours and closes Mondays. Mornings are quietest. Abidjan's heaviest rains fall from May to July.

Honest expectations

The building and displays are dated and labelling is thin. The collection lost pieces in the 2000s and not all were recovered. Photography inside is restricted.

Nearby

Central Abidjan surrounds it, and Bingerville is east.