Côte d’Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. It has a rich culture and history that lends itself well to riddles. Riddles are a fun way to learn more about a place.
In the opening paragraphs, here are quick answers to some common questions about Côte d’Ivoire:
What is the capital of Côte d’Ivoire?
Yamoussoukro became the official capital in 1983.
What major rivers run through Côte d’Ivoire?
The Bandama, Comoé, and Sassandra are some of the major rivers.
What crops is Côte d’Ivoire well-known for?
Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans. It also produces coffee, palm oil, cashews, pineapples, bananas, and more.
What are some famous landmarks in Côte d’Ivoire?
Famous landmarks include the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the central mosque in Abidjan, the National Museum in Abidjan, and the rainforests of Tai National Park.
Below are 50 riddles about Côte d’Ivoire along with the answers. Test your knowledge of this African country that is known as the “Ivory Coast”!
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – Animals
1. I have a long nose and two large tusks made of ivory. I am hunted for those tusks that give the nation its nickname. What animal am I?
Answer: An elephant.
2. I am one of the fastest land animals, with long legs, excellent sight and smell, and spotted fur. I live in the savannas and grasslands of Africa. What swift creature am I?
Answer: A cheetah.
3. I have quills instead of fur to protect me. When I walk I appear to waddle. You may find me snuffling around the forests of West Africa looking for termites and other insect treats I like. What prickly fellow am I?
Answer: A porcupine.
4. I am an agile primate that lives in troops in the rainforests. With my black fur and bare face surrounded by white fur, some say I look like a little old man of the forest! What monkey am I?
Answer: A chimpanzee.
5. At home on land and water, I have webbed feet and a wide beak. Fish, mollusks, and aquatic plants make up my diet. My eggs are laid in a mound of vegetation. Name this creature that waddles when walking on land.
Answer: A hippopotamus.
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – Geography
6. I am a huge natural harbor where ships dock to trade goods and transport cocoa, coffee, timber, bananas, and more from Côte d’Ivoire. What city am I?
Answer: Abidjan.
7. We are the green lungs of Côte d’Ivoire, covering over a quarter of the land. Logging threatens our future but for now visitors still come to see our forests filled with chimpanzees, birds, butterflies, and other creatures. What are we?
Answer: The rainforests.
8. Flowing 1,300 km through Côte d’Ivoire to the Gulf of Guinea, I am one of the nation’s major rivers. Hydroelectric dams provide power from my flowing waters. What river am I?
Answer: The Bandama River.
9. I am the highest mountain in Côte d’Ivoire, found in the west of the country. Hikers visit to see my forested slopes but must be cautious of falling into mine shafts from earlier gold mining attempts. What peak am I?
Answer: Mount Nimba.
10. Located on islands and a peninsula within a lagoon, I am Côte d’Ivoire’s “Venice of Africa” with houses on stilts and people traveling by boat through my canals. What historical city am I?
Answer: Grand-Lahou.
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – Economy
11. I am the world’s top cocoa producer, growing over 40% of all cocoa beans exported globally for making chocolate and other products. What country relies heavily on my cocoa crops?
Answer: Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
12. We are bitter-tasting beans grown on small tropical tree farms. Most of the global supply comes from West African nations like Côte d’Ivoire. Turned into powder, butter, and liquor, we are an essential ingredient in chocolate. What are we?
Answer: Cocoa beans.
13. I am grown on mid-sized plantations throughout Côte d’Ivoire, with Robusta being the main variety produced. My beans are dried, roasted, ground and brewed into a popular stimulating drink. What am I?
Answer: Coffee.
14. Grown from seed-shaped nuts native to Brazil but well-suited to tropical coasts, I am Côte d’Ivoire’s second largest agricultural export after cocoa. My oil is used for cooking and in numerous other products. What crop am I?
Answer: Palm oil.
15. Large trucks heavily loaded with my valuable beans travel along dirt tracks through plantations to reach major ports. Europe consumes much of me, but I help support over 5 million small farmers within Côte d’Ivoire. What crop supports the livelihoods of so many Ivoirians?
Answer: Cocoa beans.
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – History & Culture
16. I was an influential leader who helped Côte d’Ivoire gain independence from France and served as the nation’s first President. Many notable buildings were constructed during my time in power. Who am I?
Answer: Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
17. Built in the geographic center and forested interior of Côte d’Ivoire, I was designated the new capital in 1983 with the goal of promoting development inland from the coast. What planned city am I?
Answer: Yamoussoukro.
18. I am considered the largest church in the world, built to resemble St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City after the architect visited there. Located in the Ivoirian capital, Catholic pilgrims visit my expansive grounds yearly. What house of worship am I?
Answer: The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
19. Handwoven from cotton into colorful strips, I feature traditional patterns and shapes representing aspects of life in Côte d’Ivoire. Worn by men and women, my origin goes back centuries to the region’s ethnic groups. What traditional garment am I?
Answer: Kente cloth.
20. Skilled in acrobatics and balancing feats, my performances mix dance, music, and storytelling. Historically I spread wisdom through fables, but now I more often appear at festivals to entertain. Who am I?
Answer: A Dan mask dancer.
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – Food & Drink
21. I am a popular Ivoirian street snack made of mashed ripe plantains, commonly sold by mobile vendors across the nation. What sweet food am I?
Answer: Alloco.
22. Spicy and oily, I feature fish or meat with vegetables like eggplant or spinach on a bed of rice or cassava paste. Found on menus across Côte d’Ivoire, what flavorful dish am I?
Answer: A sauce.
23. Beef or fish are my base, seasoned with garlic, spices, peppers, tomatoes, and onions. I also contain root vegetables such as cassava, plantains, potato, or yam that soak up the rich flavors. What hearty Ivoirian stew am I?
Answer: An ahissa or sauce.
24. Originating in Ghana but popular across West Africa, I am made with fermented corn dough mixed with cassava dough and cooked into thick dumplings. What is this sweet side dish or snack called?
Answer: Kenkey.
25. This tropical fruit grows in bunches of oval yellow-orange fruits encased in thick green skin. Slightly acidic when ripe, people enjoy my juice and use me to give flavor to West African stews. What fruit am I?
Answer: A pineapple.
Riddles about Côte d’Ivoire – Miscellaneous
26. Small-scale producers harvest me from rainforest trees, with Côte d’Ivoire being one of the world’s top exporters. My nut is cracked open and the seed inside is dried and sold either raw or roasted as a popular snack. What am I?
Answer: A cashew.
27. We bring good luck according to a traditional legend in Côte d’Ivoire. When we cross your path, polite etiquette suggests gracefully accepting us onto your shoulder rather than disturbing our journey. What helpful creatures are we?
Answer: Black ants.
28. This thin flatbread is widely eaten across West Africa. It can be made from corn, cassava, or other flours then cooked on a hot griddle. In Côte d’Ivoire it often accompanies stews or sauce dishes. What is the name of this popular food?
Answer: Aloko or galette.
29. Abundant near waterways like Bandama River, these long-legged birds are a common sight walking slowly in shallow waters seeking fish, insects, and small amphibians to eat. We squawk loudly when taking flight or defending our nests, built high up to avoid predators. What marsh birds are we?
Answer: Marabou storks.
30. These small rodents often live unseen in underground burrows among plant roots. But during mating season we frolic openly through grasslands, sparring gentley with other members of our colony in complex rituals to win the affection of females. What socially charismatic creatures are we?
Answer: Naked mole rats.
Conclusion
How did you do with these riddles about the “Ivory Coast”? Riddles engage the brain through word play and double meanings. They allow enjoyment of language itself and give a playful insight into culture. From unique animals to savory dishes, African kente cloth patterns to abundant cocoa crops, diverse riddles reflect the richness of Côte d’Ivoire. Understanding and celebrating differences expands knowledge and brings our human world closer together.
