Dègah people celebrate Côta ceremony to honor ancestors in Côte d’Ivoire

The Dègah people of Motiamo in the Bondoukou department of Côte d’Ivoire gathered on November 6, 2026, to celebrate the Côta, a traditional ceremony for the final accompaniment of the deceased.

This event is part of the Gbônon Festival, which marks the end of the traditional year and the start of a new one.

Yao Souleymane Ouattara, the president of the Mutuelle pour le développement économique et socio-culturel de Motiamo, says the ceremony serves as a vital expression of Dègah cultural identity. The timing of the event is chosen by traditional elders and knowledge holders based on an ancestral calendar. Participants use the gathering to reconnect with family members and preserve communal bonds despite living in different geographic locations. Kouamé Yaoué Emeline traveled from outside the village to participate in the festivities.

She explained that while she is a Christian, she maintains the tradition to honor her father, who died when she was a child. The celebration allows community members to make wishes for peace and longevity while reinforcing solidarity among the Dègah people, a minority group related to the Gurusi, Koulango, and Abron populations.