#ABIDJAN

[humanoidhistory]

La Pyramide in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, photographed by Erwin Ebermann.

[federer7]

Soirée dansante, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire 1970

Photo: Paul Kodjo

[esoteric44ngel]

couple in abidjan (2005)

[jetrebuche]

Abidjan (2023)

[lesafricainescharmantetfraises]

African beauty from different angles

[benkaden]

Ansichtskarte / Vintage Postcard / Carte Postale

Republique de Cote D'Ivoire 6 JUIN 1961 Fondation D'Air Afrique [Design: Albert Decaris]

Editions U.DES.CO - PERROCHE

1962

[gregor-samsung]

Aya de Yopougon [Aya of Yop City] (Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie - 2013)

[postcard-from-the-past]

Customs house in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

French vintage postcard

[iameriwa]

Imani’s Story: From Broken to Whole

Imani was tired. Not the kind of tiredness a nap could fix, but the bone-deep exhaustion that comes from constantly fighting battles no one else could see. On the outside, her life looked picture-perfect—a degree from a prestigious university, a decent job, and an Instagram-worthy apartment. But inside? Inside, she was unravelling. Anxiety gripped her daily, whispering lies that she wasn’t enough. Depression dragged her into a pit so deep she wasn’t sure she’d ever climb out.

And if we’re being real? Imani didn’t know how to stop the spiral. She’d tried all the things—self-help books, podcasts, yoga classes, even therapy. They helped for a moment, like slapping a plaster on a wound that needed stitches. But the pain was still there, buried under her perfectionism and the constant need to be everything for everyone else.

One night, after yet another failed attempt to hold it together, Imani hit her breaking point. Alone in her spotless apartment, she sat on the floor, knees to her chest, and finally let herself cry. Ugly cry. The kind where you can’t breathe, and the tears feel endless. Through her sobs, she whispered something she hadn’t said in years:

“God, if You’re real… help me.”

That was the moment everything started to shift. Not in some big, dramatic way. There were no flashing lights or angelic choirs. Just a quiet feeling, like someone had taken the edge off her pain. A whisper in her heart: “I’ve got you.”

The next day, Imani did something she hadn’t done in a long time. She opened the Bible her mum gave her when she was a teenager. Flipping through the pages, she landed on Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Rest. That’s what she wanted more than anything. And for the first time, Imani stopped trying to do it all on her own. She didn’t have a grand plan. She just prayed a simple, desperate prayer: “God, I don’t know how to fix this, but I’m giving it to You.”

Letting go wasn’t easy. Imani had spent years micromanaging every detail of her life, convinced that if she didn’t stay in control, everything would fall apart. But as she began to surrender—little by little—she noticed something incredible: she wasn’t falling apart. In fact, she was finally starting to feel whole.

The anxiety that used to rule her days began to loosen its grip. She’d still feel it sometimes, creeping in at the edges, but now she had something stronger to hold onto. She’d close her eyes, take a deep breath, and remember God’s promise: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Imani started seeing life differently. She let herself leave the dishes in the sink. She stopped apologising for saying no to things that drained her. And when she messed up—which, spoiler alert, she still did—she didn’t spiral into shame. Instead, she’d remind herself: “God’s grace is bigger than my mistakes.”

The biggest change came in how Imani saw herself. She used to believe her worth was tied to her achievements, her image, or how well she could meet everyone else’s expectations. But through prayer, worship, and digging into Scripture, she discovered something wild: God loved her just as she was. Not for what she did or how perfect she tried to be, but because she was His.

Do you know how freeing that is? To realise you don’t have to earn love? That you don’t have to have it all together to be worthy?

Imani began to trust that God wasn’t just real—He was good. He was the kind of good that heals wounds you’ve hidden for years. The kind of good that takes your broken pieces and makes something beautiful. The type of good shows up in both the miracles and the mundane.

Her life didn’t suddenly become easy. There were still hard days, still moments when she felt the pull of her old fears. But now, Imani faced those moments with hope. She had seen what God could do with faith as small as a mustard seed, and she clung to that promise: “If God is for me, who can be against me?” (Romans 8:31)

Imani’s story isn’t about perfection. It’s about redemption. It’s about a woman who gave up trying to control everything and found freedom in the One who already holds it all.

God didn’t just restore Imani; He gave her a joy she couldn’t have imagined. She stopped fearing the unknown and started trusting in His plan. She even stopped fearing death, knowing it would mean meeting the One who had carried her through it all.

If you’re reading this and feeling a little like Imani—tired, lost, wondering if God could really love someone like you—know this: He does. Unconditionally.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. Just come to Him. Lay it all down. He’s been waiting for you, and He’s ready to show you just how good He, El Shaddai (God Almighty) is.

Try Him. See for yourself. Imani did, and she’ll tell you it was her best decision ever.

The name Imani is of Swahili origin and means "Faith" or "Belief." It is commonly used in East African cultures and among people of African descent worldwide, symbolising trust, conviction, and spirituality.

The name reflects a sense of strength and resilience, often tied to a deep belief in oneself, others, or a higher power - Olódùmarè [Supreme Creator or God, the source of all energy and existence] Amin 💛

Author @iameriwa

Photography: @_phanoo

Model: @adiza_ba

MUA: @kybeauuty

[dailystreetsnapshots]

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

[suprememastertv]

Loving Hut Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire 🌱🍽️🌍 Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine. 200+ restaurants, 30+ countries. Find plant-based delights near you at LovingHut.com

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

💗 Please join Supreme Master Ching Hai to sincerely thank God Almighty for World Vegan, World Peace and souls’ Liberation 💗 Every day at 9:00 PM Hong Kong time 🙏

SupremeMasterTV.com

[baskoff]

[sheltiechicago]

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

A street vendor displays her wares at the city’s main market

Photograph: Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images

[mafi-vi]

[jetrebuche]

Abidjan, 2023

[lesafricainescharmantetfraises]

voilà à quoi ressemble Abidjan en ce moment