Historic Town of Grand-Bassam

The historic town of Grand-Bassam as an example of transmodern heritage

The Historic Town of Grand-Bassam, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012, exemplifies transmodern heritage—a decolonial framework that challenges conventional interpretations of colonial urban development. This approach reveals the distinct yet coexisting realities of Quartier France, the 19th-century colonial capital, and N'zima village, home to the N'zima kotoko people. By analyzing their planning, architecture, and spatial organization, the study highlights the social, economic, political, and cultural alterity of African communities in Grand-Bassam, moving beyond the core-periphery dynamic imposed by colonization. This perspective offers a nuanced understanding of how these two sections reflect divergent yet interwoven histories, enriching our comprehension of heritage sites shaped by colonial and postcolonial forces.