Marguerite Abouet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marguerite Abouet
Abouet in 2018
Born	1971 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Nationality	Ivorian
Area(s)	Writer
Notable works	Aya
Awards	Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for First Comic Book (2006) "Rising Star Award for Best Self-Publisher" Glyph Comics Awards (2008)

Marguerite Abouet (born in 1971) is a talented writer from Côte d'Ivoire. She is famous for her graphic novel series, especially Aya and Akissi. Graphic novels are like comic books but often tell longer, more complex stories.

About Marguerite Abouet

Marguerite Abouet was born in 1971 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. When she was 12, she moved to France with her brother to live with their great uncle. Today, she lives in Romainville, a town near Paris. She lives there with her husband, Clément Oubrerie, who is an illustrator. He helps bring her stories to life with his drawings. They also have a young son.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Abouet worked as a legal assistant in Paris. She tried writing novels for young people, but she felt limited by what publishers wanted. So, she decided to try writing graphic novels instead. She left her job to focus completely on her writing.

Spreading Stories and Books

Marguerite Abouet's Aya books have been translated into 15 different languages. This means many people around the world can enjoy her stories! She has also written children's books, like Akissi: Attaque de Chats (2010).

Besides writing, Abouet also runs an organization called "Des livres pour tous." This means "Books for All" in French. Her organization builds and supports libraries in Africa. The goal is to help African children learn to read and write.

Marguerite Abouet's Education

Marguerite Abouet completed her education in Paris, France.

The Aya Graphic Novels

Aya was Marguerite Abouet's first published work in 2005. It was also her first time writing a graphic novel. Her husband, Clément Oubrerie, illustrated Aya, which was his first graphic novel project too. Abouet was inspired to create a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, who wrote Persepolis.

Why Aya Is Special

Abouet wanted to show a different side of Africa in Aya. Often, media only shows Africa dealing with war or hunger. But Abouet wanted to show everyday life. Her characters go to school, work, and plan for their futures. They also deal with family problems, just like people everywhere else. The story is set in Ivory Coast, a place Abouet knows well.

Abouet says that Aya is not her own life story. However, it does show the Ivory Coast she grew up in. The characters are based on people she knew, but their adventures are made up.

Success of Aya

Aya was a big success, especially for a first-time author. In 2006, it won the Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for First Comic Book. This is a very important award in the world of comics.

Aya sold over 200,000 copies in France alone. By the time the second book came out, it had sold over 350,000 copies worldwide. A Canadian publisher, Drawn & Quarterly, released the English version in the United States. They printed more than 10,000 copies, which is a lot for a new graphic novel in the U.S. Abouet also convinced her French publisher to sell cheaper, soft-cover copies of the graphic novel in her home country, Ivory Coast. As of 2024, the Aya and Akissi series together have sold over 1,000,000 copies!

The Aya story was even made into an animated film. It's called Aya of Yop City, and Abouet helped direct it.

Aya Character Designs and Storytelling

The characters in Aya are designed to show how diverse the world Abouet shares is. Their hairstyles, clothes, and facial expressions help show the rich African culture. The story doesn't explain every cultural detail. This lets readers learn and explore on their own. Abouet prefers to show what's happening rather than just tell it. She also uses humor and clever jokes to tell her stories.

As of 2023, there are 8 graphic novels in the Aya series. Seven of these have been released in English. The New York Times reported that sales of the Aya books increased during the George Floyd protests. The series is becoming popular again around the world, especially among French-speaking Africans living outside Africa.

Introducing Akissi de Paris

Marguerite Abouet also created a new character named Akissi. She worked with cartoonist Mathieu Sapin on this project.

See also

In Spanish: Marguerite Abouet para niños