the vine bridges, sacred tradition of the Yacouba

More than six meters above the Cavally River, a liana bridge overlooks the watercourse. These works, made by the Yacouba for hundreds of years, allow dozens of inhabitants to move from one bank to the other every day. Cassava, wood, provisions, these bridges make it possible to bring back to the village precious foodstuffs present on the other side of the water, without having to venture by swimming or by canoe in the river.

Useful, these gateways are also sacred, considered as gifts from God. The legend says that the initiates build the bridge in one night, helped by a sacred spider which would weave the vines like a giant web. They are only a small group to know the secrets of these vine bridges. A tradition, overtaken by modernity, a concrete bridge was built next to the creeper one. There are now less than ten left.