In Lahou-Kpanda, a small coastal village in Côte d’Ivoire, the sea is not just swallowing land—it’s taking the dead with it. The erosion here is so relentless that graves are washed away, forcing families to exhume their loved ones and rebury them further inland.
For fisherman Alphonse Akadie, this tragedy became deeply personal last year. He had to dig up the remains of his parents, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The ceremony was both intimate and heartbreaking. “We take the bones, the hair, the teeth—whatever is left—and wrap them in white cloths,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. “It feels like they died twice.” Before lifting them from the earth, he spoke to their spirits: “We’re not doing this to hurt you, but the sea is advancing. Your body is gone, but your spirit lives on.”
Lahou-Kpanda is a narrow strip of land pinned between the Atlantic Ocean, a lagoon, and the Bandama River, about 140 km from Abidjan. Every year, the shoreline retreats by an average of 1.6 meters. The World Bank warns that if nothing changes, the entire village could disappear by 2050.
The government admits it does not have enough funds to help everyone. Families are left to fend for themselves, paying between CFA 500,000 and 700,000 (about $888–$1,238) for permits, professional exhumations, and even speedboat transport over shifting sands. That’s nearly ten times the minimum wage. Those who can’t afford it turn to self-taught undertakers or seek help from neighbouring villages willing to safeguard the remains.
Mayor Sissoko looks over what’s left of the village cemetery—a site once holding the collective memory of the region. Now, 70% of it is underwater. “All the memory of Lahou-Kpanda is gone,” he says softly.
There is a glimmer of hope. Construction has begun on a new channel between the sea and the lagoon, funded partly by the World Bank. It’s expected to open next year and could serve as a vital barrier against the rising tide. But for many families here, the damage to their history can never be undone.
