Abissa is the New Year of the N'zima people, celebrated every year in Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire's first capital, in late October and early November. In 2026, the Abissa festival in Grand-Bassam runs from October 25 to November 8. For two weeks the town moves to the rhythm of drums, dances and disguises, and anyone can ask for forgiveness in public, or criticize the powerful.
Origins and meaning of the Abissa festival
The N'zima, or Nzema, live on both sides of the border between Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. According to Fraternité Matin, the Abissa dance was handed down to them by a spirit, Afoantchè. The festival marks the passage from one year to the next, and it is also a time to take stock of the year gone by.
Its best-known feature is freedom of speech. According to Le360 Afrique, serious wrongs can be confessed in public, and the community can grant its forgiveness. Exemplary young people are honored too. Above all, songs and costumes are used to denounce injustice and openly criticize leaders. During this exercise, the outlet writes, “the king becomes an ordinary citizen.”
At Abissa, a costume is never trivial: it speaks, denounces, challenges.
The festival is organized by the large N'Vavilé family, keepers of the dance, under the authority of the king of the N'zima Kotoko of Grand-Bassam. In 2026, King Awoulaé Amon Tanoé, president of the national chamber of kings and traditional chiefs, launched the edition on August 29 in the royal courtyard of the France quarter. This year's theme: “Abissa, a crucible of universal values and sustainable development.”
How it unfolds: three stages
Fraternité Matin describes three moments, spread over about two weeks:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Siédou | The sacred drum, the Edo-N'gbolé, goes into retreat a week before the festival. No other drum may sound, and funerals are postponed. |
| Gouazo | Abissa comes out, eight days after the Siédou. Elders acknowledge the N'Vavilé family's rights over the dance. The sacred rhythms spread through town. |
| Ewoudolé | The climax: a costumed carnival with cross-dressing men and masked dancers, closing the old year and opening the new one. |
In 2025, the public phase began on a Sunday with libations and dances in the royal courtyard, then drummers played Abissa's three symbolic rhythms on the public square of the France quarter. Every generation parades in age groups, from children aged 5 to 15 up to elders over 60.
The costumes are the most striking sight. Men dress as women, women as men, and faces are painted. Behind the humor, each outfit carries a message about community life.
Our advice
In 2025, the main day was Saturday, October 18, from 3 p.m. until late at night. Check the date of the high point in the local press and arrive in the early afternoon to find a spot around the public square of the France quarter.
Dates and places
The dates change every year and are announced by the traditional chieftaincy: in 2026, as early as late August. Here are the latest editions, according to the Ivorian press:
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2024 | October 27 to November 3 |
| 2025 | public phase from October 12, high point on October 18 |
| 2026 | October 25 to November 8 |
Abissa does not always take place. In 2018, according to Abidjan.net, only the traditional part was carried out, with no festivities, because of a crisis in the community after the municipal elections. So check the dates in the local press before booking.
Grand-Bassam is the capital of Abissa, but it is also celebrated in Tiapoum and in the N'zima villages of Nouamou, N'guiémé and Eboinda. Grand-Bassam's old colonial town, with its N'zima fishing village, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012.
Attending
Entry requirements. Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa, which you apply for online on the official SNEDAI website. Check your case on our Côte d'Ivoire entry requirements page. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and your certificate is checked on arrival.
Getting there. Grand-Bassam lies on the coast, east of Abidjan, and is linked to it by road. Travel by day: France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) advises against driving at night.
Where to stay. Abissa draws visitors from all over the country. Book early in Grand-Bassam, or stay in Abidjan.
Respecting the rites. Abissa is first of all a religious and community festival. During the Siédou, respect the taboos. Always ask before photographing someone, and follow the organizers' instructions around the sacred drum and the royal courtyard.
Watch out
According to France Diplomatie, Grand-Bassam is under heightened vigilance, but the northern border with Mali and Burkina Faso, the north of the Zanzan district and Comoé park are formally advised against. The ministry also warns that the sea is dangerous and drownings are frequent: do not swim at Grand-Bassam's beaches after the festivities.
France Diplomatie also advises staying away from crowd surges, so agree on a meeting point if you come as a group. Check your own government's travel advice too. To plan the rest of your stay, read our Côte d'Ivoire guide and the other festivals in Côte d'Ivoire, including FEMUA in Abidjan.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors take part in the Abissa festival?
Yes. According to Le360 Afrique, the festival draws neighboring peoples and tourists from across the country. Rites reserved for the court and the families remain separate, but the dances and the carnival happen in the street.
Why do men dress as women?
Cross-dressing is part of the Ewoudolé, the final carnival. Like the other costumes, it is a way to laugh, turn conventions upside down and voice criticism of community life.
Is Abissa held on the same dates every year?
No. It generally takes place between mid-October and early November, but the dates are set each year by the chieftaincy. In 2026, it runs from October 25 to November 8.
