Awoulaba

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Awoulaba is a Baoulé-language term from Ivory Coast meaning "queen of beauty", which describes women with plump and curvaceous bodies.[1] The term emphasizes a prominence of large buttocks and wide hips.[2] Ivorian photographer Joana Choumali describes Awoulabas as "beautiful women of impressive dimensions: a face with fine features, large breasts, a well-marked waist and, above all, big buttocks".[3][4] She also claims the body shape is seen as "prosperous, healthy, and sexy".[4]

Since 2011, locally manufactured mannequins depicting the Awoulaba body shape have become a familiar sight throughout numerous clothing shops in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and they are distinguished from foreign imported mannequins that depict slim women (described as Taille Fine, meaning "thin waist"). The trend of women in Abidjan and other West African cities preferring a curvy figure with big buttocks has been associated with some health concerns in the region such as overweight, metabolic syndrome, and the use of carcinogenic beauty products which are advertised as supposedly enhancing the buttocks.[5][6]

Miss Awoulaba[]

Miss Awoulaba is a beauty pageant that started in Abidjan, Ivory Coast during the early 1980s which was stated to reward "physical harmony and natural charm, with an inclination for women with prominent posteriors"[7] and to showcase "authentic African beauty".[8][9] Miss Awoulaba was organized as an alternative to Miss Cote d'Ivoire (Miss Ivory Coast), which was accused of favoring Western beauty features. [4] The women of Miss Awoulaba have curvier bodies compared to women of most Western beauty pageants and they are required to wear thick, black hair along with traditional hairstyles and clothing.[9]

Prizes[]

First Lady Dominique Folloroux-Ouattara of Ivory Coast offered a cash prize of 5.5 million CFA francs to be shared among the top three winners of the 2015 competition and 1.5 million to the top three winners of the 2017 competition. The top winner of the 2019 competition was promised a Citroën C4 vehicle from Al Moustapha Toure, president of the Collective of Economic Operators of Côte d'Ivoire (COECI).[10] Mayor Jean-Marc Yacé of Cocody offered 4 million CFA francs to be divided among the top three winners of the 2019 competition.[11]

Winners[]

  • 2001 : Diaye Judith
  • 2002 : Kouamé Adjoua Félicia
  • 2007 : Dogo Gbaza Roselyne
  • 2013 : Marie Flore Ozoua Ourigbalé
  • 2014 : Doukouré Sagnon Millenne
  • 2015 : Laeticia Ines Kouakou Oussou
  • 2016 : Tatiana Ahoua Beugré
  • 2017 : Lehi Marcelle Okobe
  • 2018 : Stephanie Tapé Lou
  • 2019 : Yomb Josée Carène
  • 2021 : Tatiana Marie Alloua Yankey

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ de Sairigné, Guillemette. La beauté en plus. Fayard. ISBN 9782213656786.
  2. ^ "Feature: The 'Awoulaba/Taille Fine' Photo Project, by Photographer Joana Choumali". Afropunk. October 13, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Joana Choumali met les corps dans tous leurs états" [Joana Choumali shows the Body in all its Forms]. Hamaji (in French). 29 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Connoisseurs of the curve: Ivory Coast's mannequin makers - in pictures". The Guardian. June 6, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Lognon, Jean-Louis; Andoh, Armelle Tania (2019). "Transformation de la silhouette à travers le grossissement des fesses en Côte d'Ivoire : normes sociales, représentations et enjeux sociaux". Corps (1). doi:10.3917/corp1.017.0363.
  6. ^ Danho, J. (2019). "Syndrome métabolique et surcharge pondérale : étude de 255 cas au service de Nutrition de l'Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) à Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire". Médecine des Maladies Métaboliques. doi:10.1016/S1957-2557(19)30084-7.
  7. ^ Nyamnjoh, FB (2005). "Fishing in Troubled Waters: Disquettes and Thiofs in Dakar". doi:10.3366/afr.2005.75.3.295. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Akindes, Simon (2002). "Playing it 'Loud and Straight': Reggae, Zouglou, Mapouka and Youth Insubordination in Côte d'Ivoire". Playing with Identities in Contemporary Music in Africa. Nordic Africa Institute. pp. 99–100. ISBN 9789171064967.
  9. ^ a b Sherrow, Victoria (2006). Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313331459.
  10. ^ "Côte d'Ivoire: Pour le concours Awoulaba 2019, une voiture offerte à la lauréate" [Ivory Coast: Car offered to the Winner of the Awoulaba 2019 Competition]. KOACI (in French). 1 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Présélection Awoulaba Cocody 2019 : Le maire Jean-Marc Yacé offre 4 millions de francs Cfa" [2019 AWOULABA Awoulaba screening: Mayor Jean-Marc Yacé offers 4 million CFA francs]. Abidjan.net News (in French). 6 May 2019.
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