Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny

Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny (born 17 September 1930) was the First Lady of Ivory Coast from 1962 to 1993. Her husband was Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the first President of Côte d'Ivoire.

Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny
Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny and her husband Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1962, at a White House reception with the Kennedys
First Lady of Ivory Coast
In role
1962 – December 7, 1993
PresidentFélix Houphouët-Boigny
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byHenriette Konan Bédié
Personal details
Born
Marie-Thérèse Brou

(1930-09-17) September 17, 1930
near Abidjan, Ivory Coast, French West Africa
Political partyDemocratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire
Spouse(s)Félix Houphouët-Boigny (1962–1993; his death)

She was born Marie-Thérèse Brou in 1930 in a suburb of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, French West Africa.[1] She was one of her parents' six children. When Brou was 16 years old, she and nineteen other Ivorian girls were chosen to attend private school in France.[1] While living in France, she met and married her husband, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, when she was 21 years old.[1] Houphouët-Boigny was more than 25 years older than her.

Houphouët-Boigny caught the eye of the media during 1962 visit to the Kennedy White House, and was dubbed "Africa's Jackie" by a starstruck media.[1][2]

In 1987, First Lady Houphouët-Boigny, she founded the N'Daya International Foundation, dedicated to improving the health, welfare, and education of children in Africa. As the Foundation's president, she led numerous projects in support of children.[3] In 1990, she helped create and produce Kimboo, a cartoon series aired on BET, to offer cartoon heroes to African children.[3]

Marie-Thérèse was the first lady of the Ivory Coast for 33 years, until her husband's death in 1993.

Félix and Marie-Thérèse did not have any biological children, but adopted three children together.[4]

References
  1. Barrow, William (July 1963). "Five Fabulous Females". Negro Digest. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  2. "Reigning Beauties". Time. 1962-06-08. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  3. "Ebony update: Marie-Thérèse Houphouët-Boigny: First Lady of the Ivory Coast". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. XLV (8): 56, 58. June 1990. ISSN 0012-9011.
  4. "Histoire de la famille Boigny". Réseau Ivoire. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
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