Abouet

Abouet is a surname best known in connection with Marguerite Abouet, a French-Ivorian writer and screenwriter. Born in 1971 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, she established an international profile through her work in graphic novels and related media.

Marguerite Abouet is the co-creator of the graphic novel series Aya de Yopougon, also known as Aya of Yop City. The series was created with artist Clément Oubrerie and began publication in the mid-2000s. It is set in Yopougon, a working-class neighborhood of Abidjan, during the 1970s, and follows Aya and her friends as they navigate adolescence, work, love, and social change. The narrative blends humor with social observation, offering a portrait of daily life in a West African city and addressing themes such as gender roles, community, and aspiration.

The Aya de Yopougon series has been translated into several languages and received widespread critical acclaim for its evocative characters, warmth, and storytelling. Its impact helped raise international interest in Francophone African comics and contributed to broader discussions about representation in graphic literature. The work has inspired adaptations and influenced later generations of creators exploring African urban experiences in graphic form. Abouet’s broader body of work continues to be associated with this influential project, which remains a reference point in contemporary African comics.