Aya

Set in the Ivory Coast of the 1970s, Aya is a warm, slice-of-life series from German publisher Carlsen Comics, originally created by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie, with Kai Wilksen also scripting across its three-issue run. It follows the everyday adventures of a smart young woman in a bustling Abidjan neighborhood, celebrating the vibrancy of African urban life without resorting to stereotypes or tragedy. Abouet's affectionate writing and Oubrerie's lively, expressive art made this a refreshing, quietly groundbreaking series that helped broaden European comics' cultural horizons.