Ivory Coast’s ‘big-bottom’ craze

Thursday Feb 21, 2008 – By Clutch

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A national dance craze in Ivory Coast has spawned a black market in treatments claiming to increase one’s bottom size.

By John James
BBC News, Abidjan

The dance in question has been inspired by DJ Mix and DJ Eloh’s hit song Bobaraba, which means “big bottom” in the local Djoula language. When it plays you can be guaranteed that the dance floor will be packed with people shaking their derrieres.

Even Ivorian footballers have adopted the moves and could be seen wiggling their bottoms in a curious on-pitch dance after each goal scored during the just-ended Africa Nations Cup.

However, doctors have warned of the possible dangers of some of the concoctions on sale.
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, one of his dancers, 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”.

Injections
In the sprawling Adjame market just north of the city centre in Abidjan, women sell “bottom enhancers”. Bottom enhancing treatments sell for $2 “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.

(Continue Reading…)

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9 Comments

  1. Cote D’Ivorians are always coming out with LOL dance moves…I remember last time it was the chicken dance or something like that…dans de poullet (sp) but they could just wear butt pads instead of exposing themselves to dangerous infections

  2. Interesting.. Hopefully no harm will come to them from using those “bottom enhancers”. Although I must say in our culture the bigger the butt the better so I (little booty Cola) can understand why they want theirs to be bigger. lol

  3. Ain’t nothing wrong with being happy with God gave ya - But you don’t need injections to improve perfection.

    Also, ummm…that stuff comes from China? Instant cause of concern. What happened to honest squats and lunges?

  4. Sharonda

    Leave yo culo alone!God gave it to you for a reason!Eat a sandwich or something lol.

  5. [...] Posted by kenyansenorita can someone tell me why Ivory Coast’s ‘big-bottom’ craze « Clutch Magazine: fashion.beauty.life.culture A Place to hold. A well deserved cushion. A sign of fertility. A sign of beauty. A sign of [...]

  6. big bottoms in African women is somthing that have been adored since. For instance in kenya women with big booties are known to lure any kind of man irrespective of status into some sexual escapades. In Nairobi women all over the town have big booties despite tiny body frame. Its not even proportional to their physique. And I think thats the harm done by silicon product and their stereotypes.

  7. [...] Posted by Luoliability Ivory Coast’s ‘big-bottom’ craze « Clutch Magazine: fashion.beauty.life.culture A Place to hold. A well deserved cushion. A sign of fertility. A sign of beauty. A sign of [...]

  8. hhmm, yet another reason to visit west Africa :)

  9. big bootied ladies are fun why lie!no man will yearn to toggle around stiff
    bonny flesh…

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