By: Marguerite Abouet Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Drawn and Quarterly Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 132 Publication Date: February 20, 2007 Release Date: February 20, 2007
“That’s what I wanted to show in Aya: an Africa without the . . . war and famine, an Africa that endures despite everything because, as we say back home, life goes on.” —Marguerite Abouet
Ivory Coast, 1978. Family and friends gather at Aya’s house every evening to watch the country’s first television ad campaign promoting the fortifying effects of Solibra, “the strong man’s beer.” It’s a golden time, and the nation, too—an oasis of affluence and stability in West Africa—seems fueled by something wondrous.
Who’s to know that the Ivorian miracle is nearing its end? In the sun-warmed streets of working-class Yopougon, aka Yop City, holidays are around the corner, the open-air bars and discos are starting to fill up, and trouble of a different kind is about to raise eyebrows. At night, an empty table in the market square under the stars is all the privacy young lovers can hope for, and what happens there is soon everybody’s business.
Aya tells the story of its nineteen-year-old heroine, the studious and clear-sighted Aya, her easygoing friends Adjoua and Bintou, and their meddling relatives and neighbors. It’s a breezy and wryly funny account of the desire for joy and freedom, and of the simple pleasures and private troubles of everyday life in Yop City. An unpretentious and gently humorous story of an Africa we rarely see–spirited, hopeful, and resilient—Aya won the 2006 award for Best First Album at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. Clément Oubrerie’s warm colors and energetic, playful lines connect expressively with Marguerite Abouet’s vibrant writing.
"Aya" gives a humorous and unique perspective on the life of an African girl with hopes and dreams Reading "Aya" was truly a unique experience for me. Having enjoyed the graphic novels of Art Spiegelman [Maus] and Marjane Satrapi [Persepolis], I was excited about "Aya", being the debut graphic novel by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. This book won the pair the 2006 award for Best First Album at the Angouleme International Comics Festival[originally published in French], and after reading it I can understand the accolades.
Set in 1978 in a working class neighborhood called Yop City in the Ivory Coast, the story revolves around a 19-year-old young woman named Aya,who differs from her friends in that her mind is not 100% occupied with boys and partying but ambition [she wants to be a doctor]. Her character in itself seems counter to the stereotypes that we are presented in many other stories about the countries in Africa - the poverty, the sense of a doomed future, AIDS etc. Not that these problems aren't real, but Aya is such a refreshing character for her optimism and belief that her ambition is achievable, even in the face of parental objection and peer pressure to just be a girl and have fun, and despite the fact that she lives in the Ivory Coast, a poor nation that is notorious for child labour and 'blood diamonds'.
The story is one that we can all identify with - about growing up and being happy with friends and family, of life in a neighborhood, of having dreams both small and big, and perhaps this is what both Abouet and Oubrerie wish to get across - that despite economic disparities and cultural differences, different issues and concerns, "we" [being the world at large] do share similarities, perhaps more than most of us are aware of.
Abouet's intelligent, and humorous writing is beautifully complemented by Oubrerie's use of vibrant colors and expressive drawings [especially the character's faces]. This is a wonderful collaboration and a promising one indeed. I can't wait for the sequel!
AFRICA, IN LIVING COLOR! It seems like everyone these days is hopping on to the Graphic Novel bandwagon! But with Aya, Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie present a rare side of Africa that one rarely sees. Written from the point-of-view of some tweeny-aged characters, 'Aya' is witty, comical and easy for any reader to relate to. If Abouet's goal was to equalize all youth in the realms of love, hope and sex, then she has certainly done it. The illustrations and color choices are also amazing. Each character is memorable and distinct. There are even illustrated recipes in th back! This is a must-buy!
I love it. Marguerite Abouet, Aya (Drawn and Quarterly, 2007)
The last square of the last page of Aya reveals to us that the whole thing was a shaggy-dog joke. But, like the excellent 1960 film Ocean's Eleven, Aya reveals to us something we should know, and often forget-- a shaggy-dog joke, told with flair, is a wonderful thing.
Aya centers on the title character, but only to an extent; this is really an ensemble piece about life in modern-day Yopugon (known in the book as Yop City), on the Ivory Coast of Africa. Westerners may be surprised to note that, aside from the dirt roads and small shops, Yop City will put one in mind of the suburbs in any modern Western civilization, especially in the attitudes of its inhabitants; fashion-conscious teens, power-hungry adults, and kids who just want to be left alone to play videogames (or spy on their older sisters). Wile the book does contain a rather healthy dose of sociopolitical commentary, Abouet never lets it gets in the way of the romantic comedy that dominates the book; in fact, she quite skillfully weaves the sociopolitical stuff in with the romantic comedy in a most impressive way. There are quite a few social-consciousness authors who could take lessons from the relatively young Abouet on how to get their points across without beating the reader over the head with a hammer that smells like dead fish. Of course, if you're entirely ignorant of politics, you can still read Aya simply for the funny; there's more than enough of that to go round. Abouet's next Aya book, Aya of Yop City, is due out later this year; I, for one, can't wait. ****
A beautiful, insightful look into the 'Real' Africa! Aya wonderfully captures the true look, feel, and...ENERGY!!! of an African city, in both its lighthearted storytelling and spot-on illustrations! The street scenes, the disco bars, and characters in their 70's duds is just sooooo perfect! Having lived on the Continent for 2 plus years, I go to this book when I want to be swept back there. If you have a love of Africa, or a love of simple storytelling, buy this book!!
Aya de Yopougon I discovered the Aya series while in Paris. I don't speak French, but bought all three books because the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL. Clement Oubrerie's illustrations depict Africans in such a beautiful manner. I can make out the story via the illustrations and love it. I can't wait to purchase the English editions!!!!! Whether you purchase this book in French or English, you won't be disappointed. Lovely, just lovely.
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