Ivorian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Cote d'Ivoire, or Ivory Coast, lies on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. French is the official language, and its largest city, Abidjan, is a major centre of trade. It is the world's largest producer of cocoa. Ivorians in Birmingham include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 49 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Ivorian.

Working for Birmingham

Ivorian residents work in healthcare, business, education and hospitality, and many are multilingual, speaking French and English as well as local languages. Their skills are valued in international business, interpreting and teaching, and Ivorian students study at the city's universities.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Ivorian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

Attieke, a dish made from cassava, and alloco, fried plantain, are favourites, and coupe-decale and zouglou music are hugely popular across West Africa. Football is a passion, and Independence Day on 7 August is marked with gatherings and celebration.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Ivorian community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.