Aya uit Yopougon

In Aya uit Yopougon (2008–2011), writer Marguerite Abouet and artist Clément Oubrerie bring to life a warm, slice-of-life portrait of 1970s Ivory Coast through the eyes of a spirited teenage girl in the Yopougon neighborhood of Abidjan. Published by Uitgeverij L, this six-issue series—translated into Dutch by Frits van der Heide—eschews Western stereotypes of Africa for a richly detailed, humorous, and everyday world of family, friendship, and small dramas. It stands as a beloved, humanizing work that expanded the scope of European comics by centering a vibrant, modern African community.