Aya di Yopougon

Clément Oubrerie’s warm, painterly art brings to life this acclaimed French graphic novel series set in 1970s Ivory Coast, following the everyday adventures and coming-of-age of a spirited young woman named Aya in the bustling neighborhood of Yopougon. Published by Rizzoli Libri from 2008 onward, the series—co-created with Marguerite Abouet—offers a vibrant, slice-of-life portrait of urban West Africa, rich with humor, family dynamics, and social observation. Though the run is a single issue, it stands as a celebrated entry in the bande dessinée tradition, notable for its authentic, joyful depiction of a time and place rarely seen in the medium.