Food and Sport as Vectors of Sociability among Senior Citizens: Between Tradition, Innovation and Isolation

This study explores the role of food and sporting activities in the construction of social ties among Ivorian seniors in Abidjan, where there is tension between cultural heritage, contemporary innovations and the risk of isolation. The aim is to analyse how these practices shape the relational dynamics of older people in a context of accelerated urbanisation and changes in family solidarity. Methodologically, a triangulated qualitative approach involves semi-directive interviews with senior citizens, ethnographic observations in sociable spaces (maquis, markets, sports clubs) and a discursive analysis of local public policies. The results reveal an ambivalence: while community meals and certain sporting practices (walking, dancing) strengthen social ties, the westernisation of diets and the reduction of meeting places undermine these dynamics. The discussion highlights the need to strike a balance between tradition and modernity to preserve intergenerational cohesion. In conclusion, maintaining social cohesion requires inclusive policies that integrate food and sports practices adapted to local realities.