Bobaraba Means "Big Bottom"
It’s a hit song and dance on the Ivory Coast, and it’s all about shaking… well, your bobaraba.
While the dance has been embraced by both sexes, DJ Mix says it was inspired by women. “We made it as a tribute to women, because African women are defined by the shape of their bottoms,” he says. “Move your bottom, jump, you see, it’s alive.” Kady Meite… says the song is a message for women. “There are women today with large bottoms who are embarrassed, so it’s to say don’t be ashamed – be comfortable,” she says. The message seems to have been taken on board – so much so that some women are now going in search of a “bobaraba”.
In the sprawling Adjame market just north of the city centre in Abidjan, women sell “bottom enhancers”. “You need to inject this liquid into your bottom once a day,” says a market trader, showing a vial of coloured liquid labelled “Vitamin B12”. Each vial costs $2. The label claims it is made in China. If you do not like the sound of injections, the same amount of money will also get you a small tub of cream. There is no description of what the product contains or how to apply it; just the words “Big bottoms and big breasts”, and two illustrating pictures.
Of course, women injecting things into their bodies is the same thing whether it’s “booty enhancing” stuff or lipodissolve: a bad idea. And saying “African women are defined by the shape of their bottoms” seems just as wrong as defining American women by how thin they are. Still… it kind of makes me want to get up and dance.
Thanks to Miriam for the link!
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Fat Positive, International, Music, Race & Ethnicity, Video
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I think I’ve told this story before in comments here, but it’s worth repeating — when I was in graduate school, a friend from Botswana said, “You should come visit me in Africa. Men would follow you down the street.” I asked, “Why? Because I’m blonde?” “No,” she replied, “because you have a BIG BUM!”
It was a real eye-opener, and in a good way. There have been plenty of times since, when I’ve felt discouraged by my body, but I never bemoan the size of my bum. Ever.
There is a similar thing in Brazil only the name for a girl like that is “poposuda”. Over there a poposão (nice round bum) is gostosa (really hot). Or at least according to my partner. But hey I’m only worried about what he thinks.
Re: Botswana, I’m reminded of Alexander McCall Smith’s Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency series in which Mma Ramotswe describes herself as “traditionally shaped.”
In another part of the world, I was recently in Fiji and, when somebody buying a t-shirt was surprised at how big it was, she was told they were “locally sized.”
The point is that it’s absurd to say the standards are universal when there are these differences throughout the world.
One of my friends is Cuban and she turned me on to the phrases fondillona and culona to describe her bottom-centric silhouette. Always fun to find new words for my favorite figure.
Awesome song and MAN those girls can dance.
But the girls in that video mostly aren’t all that big. It points out to me the power of white bermuda shorts to make your booty look bigger. Maybe instead of scary injections, and weird creams the markets should stock up on white bermuda shorts. ;-D