THE KANGA NIANZE STELE

The stele is located in the town of Tiassalé, situated to the Northwest of Abidjan. The town is part of the Agnéby-Tiassa Region. Within this town lies the village of Kanga Nianzé. This name carries a meaningful significance. Indeed, Kanga means "slave" and Nianzé means "vessel." In other words, Kanga Nianzé can be translated as "the vessel of the slaves." This village was considered the final stop before the long journey for enslaved people. You may wonder why here, of all places — and we are here to tell you everything. Within this village flows the Bodo River. This river is said to hold mystical powers, capable of erasing memories of the past. All those who bathed in its waters were believed to fall under its spell. It was for this very reason that enslaved people would bathe here before their departure. As part of its "Slave Route" project, UNESCO recognized the village of Kanga Nianzé as a witness to the colonial era in Africa. It was therefore on July 7, 2016, that a stele was unveiled in tribute to all the Black men and women who had been victims of slavery.