/ABOUT US
AN ODE TO PLACES, CULTURE, AND PEOPLE. WE'RE ON A MISSION TO INSPIRE YOU TO (RE)DISCOVER WEST AFRICA THROUGH A CREATIVE LENS.
/CELEBRATING WEST AFRICA'S BEAUTY
Our platform invites you to (re)discover the richness of West Africa: the water that bathes its coasts, the warmth of its colors, the rich flavors, millennium architecture, the rhythmic sounds & dances, and most importantly, the unmatched hospitality of its people.
From the bustling cities of Accra, Dakar, or Abidjan to the scenic villages of Dara or Soloba, we pay homage to the continent's Western Coast in a resolutely positive way, highlighting its creators and creations and exploring what makes this territory and its culture so unique. Based in Paris with the heart on the continent, Adanse is dedicated to offering an inspiring narrative on West Africa through the lens of its culture and people.
/ ADANSE
"Adanse" means "Welcome/Good arrival" in Dyula, a language from the Mande family linked to the Bambara and Malinké, spoken in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Mali, as well as in Ghana, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Dyula, or 'trader,' refers to the successful merchant who had the habit of traveling across the region to trade throughout the former area of Mandé culture from the Atlantic coast of Senegambia to the Niger and the southern edge of the Sahara. The Mande people remained fiercely loyal to their clan lineage throughout their travels, often expressing their cultural history and devotion through dance, storytelling, and oral traditions.
Today, the language is spoken by millions of people on the West side of the African continent and across its diaspora worldwide.
Pronounced A-dan-sé, our name reflects our love for discovery, respect for culture, and the hospitality tradition shared throughout (West) African countries.
Adanse to West Africa!
As an Ode to culture and People, we feature leading cultural creatives from West Africa to inspire global travelers to explore this fascinating region : discover the favorite spots from our global creative community and see West Africa through the lens of its most talented people.
Chefs, artists, designers, art curators, local or from the diaspora, they are united by a passion for creation, travel, and the continent and share their favorite Places in West Africa. (COMING SOON)
Read Our Interview
Côte d'ivoire
/ ABIDJAN
Sénégal
/ DAKAR
Gambia
/ BANJUL
Cabo verde
/ PrAia
Togo
/ LOME
Bénin
/ Porto-Novo
Guinea
/ Bissau
Mali
/ BAMAKO
Burkina Faso
/ Ouagadougo
Guinea
/ Conakry
Ghana
/ Accra
Nigeria
/ Lagos
Côte d'ivoire
/ ABIDJAN
Sénégal
/ DAKAR
Gambia
/ BANJUL
Praia
/ CABO VERDE
Togo
/ LOME
Bénin
/ Porto-Novo
Guinea
/ Bissau
Mali
/ BAMAKO
Burkina Faso
/ Ouagadougo
Guinea
/ Conakry
Ghana
/ Accra
Nigeria
/ Lagos
Côte d'ivoire
/ ABIDJAN
Sénégal
/ DAKAR
Gambia
/ BANJUL
Praia
/ CABO VERDE
Togo
/ LOME
Bénin
/ Porto-Novo
Guinea
/ Bissau
Mali
/ BAMAKO
Burkina Faso
/ Ouagadougo
Guinea
/ Conakry
Ghana
/ Accra
Nigeria
/ Lagos
/ FOUNDER
Imagined by Aminata Bamba, Adanse was born from her passion for culture and curiosity to discover more about her roots.
Growing up in France, with Ivorian heritage, and having lived in Germany and Denmark, she launched the Adanse project as a way to learn more about the global West African region, its history, traditions, and culture, and share it with a broad audience.
Read Our Interview
/ FOLLOW US @adanse.co
