Y'a Bon Banania

Y'a bon Banania, 1915 by Alexandre Andreis on left, a later version, and today's look..

I see this product in stores here in Brazzaville, and wondered what it is. This is what I found out. Its history...(mostly from from Wikipedia). Sounds like a French version of Ovaltine, now I have to buy some and taste it!

"In 1909, during a visit to Nicaragua, French journalist Pierre Lardet tasted a drink made from banana flour, ground cereal, cacao and sugar that was popular there. Back in Paris, Lardet began commercial production of a powder simulating that product. In 1914, he marketed it as Banania, showing an image of a woman from the Antilles. Her image was replaced in 1915 during WWI with the drawing of a widely smiling Senegalese infantryman enjoying Banania. Senegal was at that time a French colony whose soldiers fought as Allies in France fighting valourously in their red fezzes, with casualties of 30,000. Their courage endeared them to the French.

Lardet took advantage of their popularity for the launch of his product, handing out the product 'for our soldiers, the long-lasting nourishment they need, and which takes up the least amount of space'. The slogan "Y'a bon", "it's good," was coined from vernacular used by these soldiers. The slogan and character became inseparable as the expression was coined:" l'ami y'a bon" the "y'a bon buddy."

The advertising slogan and images have been labelled racist and colonialist by some who argue that they reinforce the old cliché of a friendly yet stupid African. Some French black people connect this stereotype with aggressive colonialist policy in Africa of the global group Unilever, the old unique owner of the brand.
In France the Banania brand is now owned by the French company Nutrimaine, which acquired it from Unilever in 2003. This slogan has not been used since 1977...

If you want to read more about Banania go to http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/16/features/blume.php?page=1