[1] The Avikam people of southern Cote d 'Ivoire live in a tropical rainforest fringed by a coastal lagoon.
Others work in agricultural cooperatives that grow palm oil, coconut, cassava or bananas.
[2] About a century ago, missionaries from Africa and Europe delivered the Gospel to the Avikam people.
Today, a sizable portion claim to be Christians while yet adhering to strongly established animistic customs.
Strong believers frequently experience daily pressure from individuals who insist on employing fetishes, or things produced by humans that are thought to have supernatural powers, to fend off evil spirits.