TITLE:
Social Perceptions and Strategies for the Valorization of Traditional Leisure Activities in Sifié (Ivory Coast): Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change
AUTHORS:
Kane Aminata, Ella Tano Mehsou Mylène, Sahgui Denga, Tra Fulbert
KEYWORDS:
Leisure, Perception, Strategies for Valorization, Tradition
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.11,
November
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: This article examines the social perceptions of traditional leisure activities among the populations of Sifié. Adopting a qualitative approach, the purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 17 individuals with in-depth knowledge of the studied phenomenon, with whom interviews were conducted. The study results show that young people seek “trendy” and highly valued leisure activities, and reject those associated with the past, shame, or cultural backwardness. Likewise, traditional leisure activities suffer from social stigmatization; practicing them exposes individuals to negative judgments, associated with an image of “backwardness” or being out of step. Faced with this decline, the Sifié community is developing strategies to revitalize its traditional leisure forms. These initiatives aim to strengthen identity pride, transmit knowledge across generations, and revalorize these activities via the media.