The carnival in Bonoua, Popo Carnival, is a cultural event celebrated annually in Bonoua, Ivory Coast and it is one of the most well-attended events in the Ivory Coast.
Derived from at first a celebration of the cultural heritage of the Aboure people, the Popo Carnival involves gastronomic competitions, Miss pageants, sports days, a festival of traditional dances and reflection workshops among other activities.
Popo means ‘mask” and during the event participants are allowed to design their own bright and colourful decorations to wear while taking part in the parades.
Young men from the Aboure tribe present war dances for generations, while they also re-enact scenes of forced labour in the days of the colonial period.
