Grand Tour Edition Advertise Now Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Best of Africa Cuisine Dream Place News Update Map Sassandra Tourism Ministry African Countries index/map African Cities Abidjan Agadir Addis Ababa Cairo Cape Town, Casablanca Dar es Salaam Essaouira Conakry Douala Fez Lusaka Marrakech Meknès Rabat Timbuktu Yaounde Advertising Classiified Send Rates  Marcel Amon Tanoh, Minister for Tourism visits Sassandra Region (Cote d'Ivoire)   Courtesy Beatrice Grandcolas, Best of Africa October 3, 2 003. As usual all villagers, men, women, children, elderly and young people were waking up early in Trepoint Canton (east of the sleepy and peaceful charming old colonial town of Sassandra). However, this was not an ordinary day: everybody was expecting the arrival of the minister for Tourism Marcel Amon Tanoh. That was a truly big event. The one and only visit of a minister for Tourism in the area took place in April 2 000. As soon as he has taken office, Marcel Amon Tanoh has promised to come and visit the south-west of Cote d'Ivoire with a view to listening to and understanding people concerns, reassuring potential tourists who may be overly influenced by abusive advice against visiting this peaceful and friendly region and altogether boosting tourism, reducing poverty and improving people's well-being. Marcel Amon Tanoh lived up to his word and to everybody's expectations; he did come. First, early September, top-rank officers from the ministry and the Ivorian Office for Tourism (OITH) came and made all necessary arrangements: they discussed menus, people to invite, presents to give, etc. Later on, official letters were dispatched. Chiefs, notables, persons of note from far away, dancers, singers, musicians were called upon for organizing the visit and welcoming the minister for Tourism Marcel Amon Tanoh. Eventually Friday, October 3 came. The sun was barely rising, the sky was low, but everybody heart was full of warmth and joy. Long forgotten trunks were opened. Jewels were cleaned up, finest apparels pressed and golden sandals polished. Chiefs are attired first: Kente cloth (traditional hand-made luxurious material), golden hats, golden chains, golden dolls and beautifully designed pieces of jewelry. While the Neyo (originating from Liberia or the border and living in the Trepoint region since the XIII th Century) belong to the Krou ethnic group and their language is close to Bete with some English influence, their traditions are similar to those of the Akan group (living in the east and center of Cote d'Ivoire). Each color or motif has a different meaning. Some of them are reserved exclusively for chiefs and prestigious ceremonies. Most of them convey power and wealth although nowadays pure gold is no longer mandatory. Dancers and musicians are there too and are rehearsing. Chiefs are opening bandji (palm wine) cans and start drinking. Women shout and sing ; young boys dance, shout, are tremendously exited and exceedingly happy. Everybody has great fun. Altogether, the scene is magnificent and fascinating. To comport with tradition, drums announce the arrival of the minister immediately followed by the more modern police horn. People yell, people bawl out, people applaud, people sing, people greet the group, people express their joy in any possible way, drums are louder and stronger as the minister and his spouse immediately followed by Sassandra mayor, priest and prefect step down from their cars. Dances resume. Women who according to Neyo tradition are only performing in the most exclusive ceremonies and to the sole benefit of a few dignitaries dance gracefully. It's really amazing. The minister, his spouse, the mayor and the prefect are offered the best seats and a glass of water. Everybody else take a seat and watch the festivities going on. Finally, silence is ordered, people are calmed down and everybody listens carefully to the villagers' spokesman voicing out complaints and demands. Tradition is now combined with modernity. While the minister, his team leaders and media are getting acquainted with Best of Africa comfortable facilities and up to date conveniences, by the beach ritual songs and drums prolong their mysterious sound. 5 representatives of Dagbego village, the minister, his spouse, top-rank officials, journalists all of them head toward Best of Africa main building and enjoy their meal composed of prawns, fresh seafood and grouper, taro leaves, home-made sherbets and exotic fruit salad accompanied with French and Italian wine and lived up by the most delightful dance by a young and darling small girl wearing superb ancestral beads. It's time to leave.A Guere (people from the west) dance performed by two young men closes the ceremony as tradition suggests. .