Marie-Therese Houphouet-Boigny: First Lady of the Ivory Coast; 28 years after U.S. visit, glamorous grandmother is still making headlines

Ebony, June, 1990

Marie-Therese Houphouet-Boigny

IT HAS been nearly three decades now since the then 31-year-old Mme. Felix Houphouet-Boigny, wife of the president of the Ivory Coast, created a national stir when, at the invitation of President John Kennedy, she and her husband visited the United States. From the instant her foot touched U.S. soil, it seemed neither the American press nor public could get enough of her. When she appeared, heads turned, talk stopped, chins dropped.

In the tumble of events that defined her 10-day state visit, she was dubbed by an adoring press "Africa's Jackie." But however well-meaning that comparison, she was, in truth, more--much more--than an African version of Jackie Kennedy. She was--is--her own woman, the standard by which others are measured.

In the 28 years since her visit to the Kennedy White House, the young, stunningly glamorous Mme. Houphouet-Boigny (pronounced off-wet bwan-yee) has changed into an elegant 59-year-old mother of three grown daughters--and a grandmother of three. Still immediately striking, the first lady of the Ivory Coast has devoted herself to her family and the people of the Cote d'Ivoire.

In April 1987, she formed the N'Daya International Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health, welfare and education of needy children in Africa. President of the Foundation since its creation, Mme. Houphouet-Boigny has in just three years spearheaded numerous projects ranging from the construction of maternal and child health clinics and orphanages in the capital city of Abidjan to the sponsorship of vacation camps for needy children all over the world.

But it is mow, as a 59-year-old grandmother, that Mme. Houphouet-Boigny has undertaken what she believes to be one of her life's greatest challenges: saving the children. Today, the first lady says she has made all children--not just Africa's and not just her own--her primary cause.

She spent the past year creating and producing a cartoon series which she says will be her "messenger of hope" to all children. Since December, when she released the cartoon series in Cote d'Ivoire ("It was my Christmas gift to the children"), Mme. Houphouet-Boigny has been traveling the world to generate support for the worldwide purchase of the series, the first to star an African cartoon hero while using story lines that teach African culture and history.

"After hearing countless complaints that Black children didn't have cartoon heroes like White children," says Mme. Houphouet Boigny, "I decided to create Kimboo to change that. As ambassador from Africa's children to all the children of the world, little Kimboo carries a message of hope. And by awakening the curiousity of youth worldwide, spreading a better understanding of African culture, and encouraging respect and human dignity, Kimboo will help create the foundations of true international brotherhood."

While "Kimboo" is currently being shown in Africa, it is critical, says Mme. Houphouet-Boigny, that the series be aired worldwide. "Our image of this continent is often overly dependent on outdated images. With this new series, the African continent will recover its identity and its rightful place in today's world."