On June 7, 2025, African and Afro-descendant women from various backgrounds took part in a commemorative ceremony in Kanga-Nianzé, a village steeped in memory. The visit followed the official launch of the ADWIN movement (African and African Descendant Women Impact Network) held in Abidjan on June 5 and 6.

This ceremony was part of a broader memorial initiative that had already begun weeks earlier. On May 10, a delegation from the Association of Antilleans and Guianese in Côte d’Ivoire, accompanied by guests attending the Abidjan International Book Fair (SILA), also took the same path of remembrance. That visit highlighted the historical importance of Kanga-Nianzé, officially recognized as Côte d’Ivoire’s first slavery memorial site.

Beyond the emotional weight of the moment, June 7 was also a time for collective reflection. The ADWIN members’ initiatives to empower African and Afro-descendant women were warmly acknowledged. The gathering reaffirmed deep-rooted values: human dignity, equality among peoples, and the preservation of living memory.

Describing this initiative as a project of great significance for Africa and humanity, the Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Françoise Remarck, reminded participants that Côte d’Ivoire shares a common heritage with the Afro-descendant diaspora — a heritage embodied today by many descendants fully integrated into the national community.

The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Kouassi Yao Euphrasie, Gender Advisor to the Prime Minister and Coordinator of the Compendium of Female Skills in Côte d’Ivoire; Élisabeth Moreno, ADWIN co-founder and former French Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Equal Opportunities; and Solange Amichia, Vice President of the Agnéby-Tiassa Region and Director General of CEPICI, among others.