Marguerite Abouet

Marguerite Abouet, born in 1971 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is a writer of bandes dessinées best known for her graphic novel series *Aya* and *Akissi*. She spent much of her childhood in the Yopougon district of Abidjan, an experience that deeply informs her work. Abouet moved to France at age twelve, where she later studied and worked in administrative jobs before turning to comics. Her breakthrough came with *Aya*, drawn by Clément Oubrerie, which offers a warm, slice-of-life portrait of a teenage girl in 1970s Ivory Coast, steering clear of the usual narratives of poverty and conflict. The series earned her international acclaim and was followed by the children’s series *Akissi*, also with Oubrerie. Abouet’s writing is celebrated for its humor, humanity, and authentic depiction of everyday West African life. She has received several awards, including the Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for First Album in 2006 for *Aya*. Active from 2005 to 2023, she remains a significant voice in Francophone comics, bringing Ivorian perspectives to a global audience.