The young women aren’t the only residents of Yopougon involved in the excitement, however Aya’s father is caught in the midst of his own trysts and his employer’s declining Solibra beer sales, and Adjoua’s brother finds his share of the city’s nightlife. The new mother Adjoua has her friends to help with the baby, perhaps employing Aya a bit too frequently, while a new romance leaves Bintou with little time for her friends, let alone their responsibilities.

The original cast of characters is back in full force, with a case of questionable paternity fanning the flames of activity in the community. Oubrerie’s artwork synchronizes perfectly with Abouet’s funny and lighthearted writing, which together create a spirited atmosphere and scenarios that, however unique to the bygone setting, remain entirely contemporary in their effect. This continuation of the dynamic story by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie returns to Africa’s Ivory Coast in the late 1970s, where life in Yop City is as dramatic as ever. The original Drawn & Quarterly volume of Aya debuted last year to much critical acclaim, receiving a Quill Award nomination and praise for its accessibility and for the rare portrait of a warm, vibrant Africa it presents. And unfortunately, this is something Aya of Yop City is unable to do. While Aya has dreams of becoming a doctor, her two best friends, Adjoua and Bintou, just like to hang out and spend their evenings dancing, drinking and flirting with boys. Not to mention when Moussa, the spoiled rotten Sissoko boy finds out he’s going to be a dad! How can he tell his old man, one of the richest and most feared men in the whole country? Aya of Yop City is a gorgeously rendered animated drama that places the Ivory Coast in a shimmering new light.“ wittily delves into both the political and the pop during an enchanted era when anything seemed possible.” - Vibe Vixen 2013 ‘Aya de Yopougon’ Directed by Marguerite Abouet, Clement Oubrerie. Their ambition is to follow plan C: Combs, Clothes and Chasing Men! Big trouble comes to town when Adjoua realizes she’s pregnant.

Her dad is a sales rep for a brewery, and certainly gets his fill of the product. Her mom Fanta is the neighborhood’s most trusted healer.

It is always lively, with open markets, colorful fabrics, funky cafés and of course, music everywhere. Aya is 19, and she loves her neighborhood of Yop City in Abidjan, where everyone knows each other. From teen romance to parental tribulations, it offers a rare glimpse into the daily lives of Africans, and is adapted from a best-selling series of graphic novels. Against the colorful and spirited backdrop of the Ivory Coast in the 1970s, Aya of Yop City is a vibrant, beautifully animated film.

Aya of Yop City by Marguerite Abouet