Atti\u00e9k\u00e9, Ivory Coast\u2019s beloved staple made from fermented cassava flour, was recently added to UNESCO\u2019s list of intangible cultural heritage.<\/p>\n Pronounced \u201catchekay,\u201d this ground cassava couscous, often eaten with grilled fish, is enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.<\/p>\n Originally from Ivory Coast\u2019s coastal areas centuries ago, atti\u00e9k\u00e9 has become popular across West Africa, according to the BBC.<\/p>\n Ivory Coast\u2019s UNESCO delegate, Ramata Ly-Bakayoko, noted at the 19th session on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Paraguay that atti\u00e9k\u00e9 is \u201cdeeply rooted in the daily lives of its communities.\u201d<\/p>\n In Ivory Coast, atti\u00e9k\u00e9 is commonly served at weddings, baptisms, funerals, and community meetings.<\/p>\n Atti\u00e9k\u00e9 is more than a meal; it\u2019s a livelihood and a path to financial autonomy for many women.<\/p>\n Traditionally made by women and girls, the process, which can take several days, involves peeling, grating, and mixing cassava root with previously fermented cassava.<\/p>\n The skills required to make atti\u00e9k\u00e9 have also been added to UNESCO\u2019s heritage list.<\/p>\n The pulp of cassava is pressed to remove starch, then manually processed, dried, and steamed before being sold in local markets, typically in plastic bags containing a single ball of atti\u00e9k\u00e9.<\/p>\n At its core, atti\u00e9k\u00e9 is a cultural connection passed down from mother to daughter, with its recipes, processes, and methods forming a key part of both individual and national identity, according to Ly-Bakayoko.<\/p>\n UNESCO\u2019s list of intangible cultural heritage highlights practices at risk, underscoring the need for preservation.<\/p>\n The inclusion of atti\u00e9k\u00e9 emphasizes its global cultural significance.<\/p>\n However, the dish has often sparked controversy, particularly in 2019, when Florence Bassono, founder of Faso Atti\u00e9k\u00e9 from Burkina Faso, won an award at the Abidjan International Agriculture Show, causing outrage in Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n Many Ivorians were upset that a foreigner won an award for their national dish, atti\u00e9k\u00e9.<\/p>\n In response, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization registered a collective trademark earlier this year to prevent cassava from other countries from being sold under the name atti\u00e9k\u00e9, similar to how champagne must be produced in France\u2019s Champagne region.<\/p>\n Also, watch the 31st Night prophecies from various Ghanaian prophets at their churches below:<\/b> <\/p>\n![\"File](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/311\/31193811.295.jpg\" "\\"File")
File photo: A plate of well-garnished Atti\u00e9k\u00e9<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n