Kouadioblékro

Kouadiobléro is named after its founder Kouadioblé. In the Baule language, the syllables that form the word Kouadioblékro are «Kouadio» a surname, «blé» which is the word for black «kro» meaning the village. Kouadioblé was a handsome black man, a notable of great wisdom, a unifying, reconciling man of peace.

Located about 30 kilometers from Bocanda, Kouadioblékro became a «sous-préfecture» in 2007. The «sous-préfecture» includes fifteen (15) villages and ten (10) «camps» (small villages).

The villages are: Kouadioblékro (capital of the «sous-préfecture»), N´Damien, Attanou-Kouadiokro, Proukro, Guibo-Yapikro, Ménou, Djo-N´Gattakro, Guibo-Bayassou, Kouassi-N´Zikro, Aboutoukro, Abéanou, Koffi-Konankro, Aka-Ahossikro, Assika-N´Ziblékro et Assika-Kpoléssou.

The population of the entire «sous-préfecture» is approximately 25,000 people (2006 census). It is mainly composed of indigenous Baule people and people from neighboring countries and regions (merchants from countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger).

The population is about 40% Christian, 1% Muslim and 59% animists. Approximately 90% are illiterate meaning that around 10% have had schooling. The life expectancy is around 49 years, 40% undern 20 years of age.

Kouadioblékro, as capital of sub-prefecture provides: :

• a primary school of six (6) classes with 460 students and six (6) teachers;
• A dispensary with two (2) beds receiving an average of ten (10) visits per day;
• A maternity with two (2) beds receiving approximately twenty-two (22) women per month
• A central market.

Note: Travel to the nearest hospital in Bocanda (30 km) is done by motorcycle.

The other 14 villages have schools with two (2) classrooms on average and about 200 students each.

We are taught that «Pâqui-Nou» literally translated «at Easter» in The Ivory Coast is a celebration that originates in Kouadioblékro.

Pâqui-Nou gets its roots from the migrant populations of the Baule villages. They chose the Easter holiday period to return to their villages in order to discuss and plan their development projects.

Pâqui-Nou is a festive gathering and reunion centered around development. In the Baule regions.

Today Pâqui-Nou is a time of celebration for the resurrection of Christ as well as at the same time the reunion throughout the Ivory Coast.

In the Ivory Coast, traditional chiefdoms continue to play an important political role.

This is the case for the Baule tribe which belongs to the large ethnic group of the Akans. The Baule tribe follows tradition that authority is passed on to the direct descendants of the village founder

The management of increasingly modern villages creates a new vision adapted to the times.. The training of traditional leaders becomes very important.

In 1996, thanks to his charisma and skills, Nanan Kouadio Konan Martin was chosen to lead thef village Kouadioblékro. He was not of the direct hereditary lineage.

In April 2010, the patriarch David Nanan Kouassi Koffipassed, the last member of the lineage of the founder and, chief resident village passed on the royal lineage to Paul Niederhäuser this in accordance with the council of Elders. The ceremonial name conferred to him at investiture is Nanan Kouadioblé II.

To fully carry out its mandate, Nanan Kouadioblé II is surrounded by a Council of Elders, composed by the village chiefs, the notables and heads of fifteen (15) villages in the sub-prefecture.

The department of Bocanda in the NZI Comoé region to which Kouadioblékro belongs was declared a disaster area by president Felix Houphouet Boigny. Export crops such as coffee and cocoa were promoted at the expense of food crops. Market values allowed a decent living until the late 80s. Following the crash in the coffee and cocoa market. The population was lacking in self-sufficiency and its source of income.

Added to this the civil war of 2002 plunged the country into a political, economic and social crisis resulting with 3,000 deaths in 2010-2011.

Rebuilding after the 2012 crisis is a long-term project requiring adequate resources, infrastructures as well an absolute commitment to long term peace and security.

The NZI Comoé region is primarily an agricultural one. Therefore, the main sources of income are coffee, cocoa, foodstuffs, cashew and teak wood. The «sous-préfecture» of Kouadioblékro fits into this scheme of things.

The average salary is 100,000 FCFA / month (about 250 CHF / month, or 10 CHF / day).