Hélène Kiénon-Kaboré is a full professor of archaeology at Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny. She has pioneered research into African iron metallurgy, with three books and many articles to her name, considering the origins and technology of iron production in Ivory Coast and West Africa. Professor Kiénon-Kaboré’s work has contributed to the development of Ivorian archaeology on a national and international scale and the training of multiple generations of archaeologists.
Professor Kiénon-Kaboré is described as ‘endowed with unparalleled dynamism’, and has brought that energy to the development of Ivorian archaeology over the last 15 years. In 2005 she was appointed Head of the Archaeology Department of ISAD (Institute of Anthropological Sciences for Development). She immediately set up a research team to organize archaeological research across the entire extent of Cote d’Ivoire. Having studied at the University of Paris 1-Sorbonne, Professor Kiénon-Kaboré had extensive international connections and used them in negotiating partnerships at the Universities of Neuchâtel, Friborg, and Geneva, enabling Ivorian students to benefit from field internships in Toumodi, Odienné, and Korhogo.
A commitment to the archaeology and heritage of Ivory Coast have meant several projects on cultural heritage. She was central to the creation of a sub-directorate of Archaeology at the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie, where she remains special advisor. In that role, Professor Kiénon-Kaboré has organised ‘A celebration of 100 years of Ivorian archeology’ (2016) and ‘Ivorian Archaeology Week’ (2019).
At an international level, Professor Kiénon-Kaboré has served as President of the AAWA (Association of Archaeologists of West Africa) from 2010 to 2014 and is a member of the Franco-African steering committee of Scientific Advisors to Governments of the INSA (International Network for Government Science Advice) for French-speaking Africa.
Professor Kiénon-Kaboré’s dynamism cannot be overstated. As well as using her position to train and promote Ivorian students and archaeology, she pursues an international research agenda. Her work on iron-working in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast has added significantly to our understanding of the development of specialist iron-working centres across West Africa in the second millennium AD. She remains a pioneer in her field, admired by her students for her commitment to the archaeology of the region.
Post by Stephanie Wynne-Jones and Lucy Moore
Images provided by Aicha Gnin Touré and used with permission.
