What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Africa and the people that live there? Is it wide open spaces, animal safaris and poverty? As Westerners these images of Africa run rampant, because this is how the media portrays Africa and its people to us. Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie means to change this view of Africa, specifically the Côte d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast. What people might not know about the Ivory Coast however, is that until August 7,1960, it was still a French colony. Aya takes place in the 1970’s, so the people of the Côte d’Ivoire were still trying to figure out their newfound independence.
Marguerite Abouet wrote Aya, as a semi-autobiographical tale since she herself is from Abidjan, which is located on the Ivory Coast. I also believe that Abouet wrote Aya as a way of giving American and European readers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Ivory Coast residents. In turn this would show them how much alike their lives aligned rather than not. Friends Aya, Bintou, and Adjoua all struggle with problems such as loyalty, friendship, and family matters. Aya herself is seen as a serious student who wants more for herself other than marriage and family, unlike her friends who do want to marry and raise a family, but each of her friends also have their own set of goals regarding this particular tract. Another way that shows that Abouet wrote this novel with American and European readers in mind, is that there are multiple subplots to the graphic novel, so as readers you aren’t just stuck reading about one particular character. This also gives readers a broader view of how little differences there actually are between the different cultures. Everyone has family problems, everyone has dreams and aspirations these aren’t specific to one culture, or one country.
In this regard, I think this is the responsibility that authors have to their readers who are outside of their geographic or cultural borders. I also believe that graphic novels can be the best way to do this, since graphic novels can be for more than entertainment purposes. Difficult subjects can be easier to digest or confront if they are in graphic novel form for some reason. Aya presents us with young women who are trying to forge their way in the world, all while facing a change in gender roles along with trying to progress with the changing times. As readers we have a responsibility to take these lessons in and learn from them and try and change the outlook as well.
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| https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13287216 |
Marguerite Abouet wrote Aya, as a semi-autobiographical tale since she herself is from Abidjan, which is located on the Ivory Coast. I also believe that Abouet wrote Aya as a way of giving American and European readers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Ivory Coast residents. In turn this would show them how much alike their lives aligned rather than not. Friends Aya, Bintou, and Adjoua all struggle with problems such as loyalty, friendship, and family matters. Aya herself is seen as a serious student who wants more for herself other than marriage and family, unlike her friends who do want to marry and raise a family, but each of her friends also have their own set of goals regarding this particular tract. Another way that shows that Abouet wrote this novel with American and European readers in mind, is that there are multiple subplots to the graphic novel, so as readers you aren’t just stuck reading about one particular character. This also gives readers a broader view of how little differences there actually are between the different cultures. Everyone has family problems, everyone has dreams and aspirations these aren’t specific to one culture, or one country.
In this regard, I think this is the responsibility that authors have to their readers who are outside of their geographic or cultural borders. I also believe that graphic novels can be the best way to do this, since graphic novels can be for more than entertainment purposes. Difficult subjects can be easier to digest or confront if they are in graphic novel form for some reason. Aya presents us with young women who are trying to forge their way in the world, all while facing a change in gender roles along with trying to progress with the changing times. As readers we have a responsibility to take these lessons in and learn from them and try and change the outlook as well.
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