Some journeys begin with curiosity. Others begin with a connection to home.

For Alicia and the Koné family, Côte d’Ivoire is more than a destination on an itinerary. It is part of a family story that stretches across generations, communities, and continents.

The family’s roots lead to Sirana, a village near Odienné in northwestern Côte d’Ivoire. It was there that Mamadou Koné, the father of Alicia’s husband, Sekou, was born before later building a life and raising his family in Abidjan.

Sekou’s own journey eventually brought him from Côte d’Ivoire to the United States. Yet even across distance, his connection to his home country, family, and culture remained strong.

Over the years, Côte d’Ivoire has also become deeply meaningful to Alicia. Through her relationship with Sekou and his family, she has experienced the country not simply as a visitor, but through family connections, shared history, and everyday community life.

That personal connection is part of what inspired this journey.

Alicia and Sekou want others to experience a Côte d’Ivoire that cannot be fully understood through headlines, statistics, or a traditional travel itinerary. They hope participants will encounter the country through its people, history, traditions, landscapes, food, and communities.

This journey is an invitation to arrive with curiosity and humility—to listen before making assumptions, to learn through relationships, and to understand a place through the perspectives of the people who call it home.

We hope participants return with more than photographs and memories.

We hope they come home with a deeper understanding of Côte d’Ivoire, a greater appreciation for perspectives different from their own, and meaningful relationships that continue beyond the journey itself.

This vision reflects the heart of Kone Consulting’s work. Whether we are supporting organizations, facilitating conversations, or connecting across cultures, we believe meaningful change begins with listening, learning from lived experience, and building relationships grounded in respect.

For Kone Consulting, this journey is both personal and purposeful.

It is a way to honor where the Koné family comes from, share the beauty and complexity of Côte d’Ivoire, and create space for genuine cross-cultural learning.

In the coming days, we look forward to sharing more about the people, places, and experiences that will shape this journey.