[Photos] Colourful Africa parades at the Rio Olympics (West Africa)

In a spectacular opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium, the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics kicked off in colour and glamour on Friday, August 5, 2016.

Over 200 countries paraded their athletes led by a flag bearer carrying the national flag.

Africa’s 54 countries were beautifully represented in the trademark mix of colours including Red, Gold, Green, Black and Blue.

South Sudan paraded for the first time as a country at this year’s Olympic Games since its independence in 2011 from Sudan.

In alphabetical order, see what the African representatives wore at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics and their respective flag bearers.

Benin athletes displayed beautiful traditional outfits and were led by Yemi Geoffrey Afiss Apithy (Fencing)

### Burkina Faso follows in a black and white striped traditional smock and hats led by Rachid Sidibe (Judo)

### Cape Verde in all white and a touch of blue was led by Maria Andrade (Taekwondo)

### Côte d’Ivoire team drenched in their traditional orange colour was led by Murielle Ahoure (Athletics)

### Gambia stun in their navy blue traditional dresses led by Gina Basse (Athletics)

### Ghana displays a beautiful mix of colourful traditional Kente and the team was led by Flings Owusu-Agyapong (Athletics)

### Guinea was led by Mamadama Bangoura (Judo)

### Guinea-Bissau settles on a blue blazer led by Augusto Midana (Wrestling)

### Liberia wears traditional outfits in the colours of their flag led by Emmanuel Matadi (Athletics)

### Mali goes for all traditional white led by Djenebou Dante (Athletics)

### Mauritania in a mixed attire was led by Jidou El Moctar (Athletics)

### Niger draped in traditional white and orange dresses are led by Abdoulrazak Issoufou Alfaga (Taekwondo)

### Nigeria follows in the much criticized green and white track suit led by Olufunke Oshona Ike (Table tennis)

### Sao Tome and Principe was led by Buly Da Conceicao Triste (Canoeing)

### Senegal goes in for yellow traditional dresses with green designs led by Isabelle Sambou (Wrestling)

### Sierra Leone was led by Bunturabie Jalloh (Swimming)

### Togo ended the parade for the West African nations in their white pairs of trousers and multicoloured shirts led by Adzo Rebecca Krossi (Swimming)

Check out the parades of East, North, Southern and Central Africa.

Also follow our LIVE BLOG on the Olympic Games as we update you on African performances.

Photo Credit: Reuters