The Avikam, also known as the Brignan, Gbanda, and Lahou, are part of the Lagoon cluster of peoples of Ivory Coast.
They are concentrated in the subprefecture of Grand-Lahou.
They are part of the large Akan culture group.
The majority of people earn a living from agriculture. Some are subsistence farmers, living off what they raise in their own fields. Others work in agricultural cooperatives that grow palm oil, coconut, cassava or bananas. Still others work for large producers of rubber and palm oil. Some Avikam still fish as well to provide themselves with a protein source.
The Avikam people of southern Cote d 'Ivoire live in a tropical rainforest fringed by a coastal lagoon. The nearby city of Abidjan, the country's economic capital, is also home to many of them.
Avikam are divided into 6 sub-tribes such as
It is said the dialect of Avikan many obatined from Twi, Alladian, Ahanta, Mokyiobo, Agoua, Agni and dida language. Avikam used phrases which derived from the Twi language such as Ogya but among Avikam is spelled as Edja meaning fire, Agyinamoa which is cut they spelled as Ajarawa or Agyinawa
Avikam families Include Akroui, Braffe, Kpanda, Likpilassie and Sawa have Intronise which is the Supreme leader or emi sa meaning people's guide .
Avikam Culture, they have day name just like every Akans in Ghana and Ivory Coast and they carved face masks and as well as human figures which include gold, bronze and Ivory..
The Avikam dance the mapouka, popularized in the 90s by the group Nigui Saff K-Dance before being banned for its "obscenity"
Avikam People celebrate festivals such as Yam Festival. Mask Festivals is celebrated to pay homage to their ancestors and wear colorful constumes futhermore, They perform cultural dances such as Goli dance perfomed by Avikam and Baoule People of Ivory Coast, Mapoka dance, war dance and different kinds of cultural dances.
About a century ago, missionaries from Africa and Europe delivered the Gospel to the Avikam people. Today, a sizable portion claim to be Christians while yet adhering to strongly established animistic customs. Strong believers frequently experience daily pressure from individuals who insist on employing fetishes, or things produced by humans that are thought to have supernatural powers, to fend off evil spirits
In Avikam Concept, They believed in a Supreme being which is considered as Creator and river Goddess they are accompained by their Ancestors and a Traditional Priest inteprets the words of the aancestors and river Goddess they are consulted to heal sickness and human disasters
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