Des négociants au long cours s'arrêtent à Dimbokro (Côte-d'Ivoire).

Abstract

S. Bredeloup — Long-Distance Traders Stop in Dimbokro, Ivory Coast. On the basis of biographies gathered in the field, the occupational, cultural, family and social mobility of individuals is shown to be tied to the history of Dimbokro, a history shaped by migrations. Achievement and then a fall for M'Ba, a Malinke teenager who came from his hometown of Sikasso to live with his uncle. Owing to its infrastructure, Dimbokro, a major trading center, grew until the Daoukro road was built. Then separated from major circuits of trade, the town declined; and business fell off for M'Ba. A new generation of long-distance traders has emerged, and two sorts are compared: the "solidarity" ones who create trading relationships out of kinship, and the "solitary" ones who choose such relationships on their own. Given the similar fates of both, mobility is still the way to social success, itself dependent on Dimbokro's growth or decline.