A TikTok-driven musical and dance genre called Biama has sparked a widespread dance craze among youth in Ivory Coast [1, 2].
The trend represents a shift in Ivorian youth culture by moving high-energy dance from exclusive clubs to the streets. Because Biama is shared via social media, it is more accessible to working-class audiences than previous trends.
The movement is centered in Yopougon, a working-class neighborhood in Abidjan [1, 2]. While the genre is currently experiencing a boom, it originated approximately five years ago [1].
Biama differs from the established coupé-décalé style. While coupé-décalé is often associated with club environments, Biama is street-based, making it a natural fit for the short-form video format of TikTok [1, 2].
Young people across Abidjan are adopting the choreography, using the platform to share their versions of the dance. This digital proliferation has allowed a localized neighborhood style to scale into a national phenomenon [1, 2].
“Biama is street-based and shared on social media, making it easily accessible to young, working-class audiences.”
The rise of Biama illustrates the democratizing power of social media in the music industry. By bypassing traditional venue-based gatekeepers like nightclubs, working-class youth in districts like Yopougon can export their local culture to a national audience instantly, shifting the center of cultural influence from commercial hubs to residential streets.
