In a vibrant fusion of culture, agriculture, and music, the second edition of the Cacao Jazz Festival was launched on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Abidjan Institute of Technology (ITA) in Cocody-Deux Plateaux.
The event aimed to champion peace and social cohesion through a unique alliance of cocoa, jazz, and technological innovation.
Held under the theme “Cocoa, Jazz and Innovation: a symphony for peace and social cohesion”, the festival brought together cocoa farmers, artists, students, entrepreneurs, and institutional leaders.
The goal was clear: to harness culture and creativity as tools for reconciliation, dialogue, and national unity.
General curator of the festival, N’gnace Koffi, spoke passionately about the symbolism of the event.
“Cocoa nourishes the body, jazz nourishes the soul. Together, they tell the story of a people and carry the hope of a peaceful future,” he said.
The festival celebrates Ivory Coast’s dual identity as the world’s top cocoa producer and as a nation with deep cultural roots.
By marrying the richness of cocoa with the improvisational spirit of jazz, the event positions itself as a beacon of community engagement and rural recognition.
Special emphasis was placed on acknowledging cocoa farmers as the unsung heroes of the Ivorian economy.
Born in Divo, one of the country’s major cocoa-growing regions, the Cacao Jazz Festival now aims to create bridges between rural and urban communities.
This year’s edition deepened its focus on education and innovation through collaboration with ITA, encouraging youth to explore the intersection of tradition, civic engagement, and modernity.
Festival attendees participated in panel discussions, explored high-tech labs at the institute, and enjoyed genre-blending live performances that connected African rhythms with jazz melodies.
The experience underscored the power of music and agriculture as unifying forces.
Echoing the festival’s motto, “The success of this country depends on agriculture,” organizers paid heartfelt tribute to Ivorian farmers, whose labor sustains the nation’s food security and economic resilience.
As the Cacao Jazz Festival gains momentum, its founders envision it becoming a lasting fixture in the Ivorian cultural calendar—an annual gathering that not only entertains but also inspires a more cohesive and peaceful society.
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