Abidjan doesn’t exactly spiff up for the holiday like cities in the US. In fact, Abidjan hasn’t really spiffed anything up since the civil war began 7 years ago.
However, there are a couple shopping malls in the city touting very expensive import items to the city’s elite that have added some flare for the holiday. These malls’ main customers are rich government officials, wealthy ex-pats, and the occasional American missionary just looking for a pizza.
When we went by the mall yesterday to grab a pizza I was completely baffled by the Christmas holiday decorations. It was more of an “Arabian Nights” than Christmas theme. I did see a display with two wisemen (the third had gotten lost on the other side of the mall) and there was a semblance of a Christmas tree. However, it was the women handing out adverts dressed as belly dancers that really threw me off. I guess the elves are so busy making toys for the US that Santa had to send his harem over here.
