Banania is a popular chocolate drink found most widely distributed in France. It is made from cocoa, banana flour, cereals, honey and sugar. There are two types of Banania available in French supermarkets: 'traditional' which must be cooked with milk for 10 minutes, and 'instant' which can be prepared in similar fashion to Nesquik.

History

left|thumb|The logo used by the original company in 1915

At the outset of World War I, the popularity of the colonial troops at the time led to the replacement of the West Indian in 1915, by the now more familiar jolly Senegalese infantry man enjoying Banania. Pierre Lardet took it upon himself to distribute the product to the Army, using the line pour nos soldats la nourriture abondante qui se conserve sous le moindre volume possible ("for our soldiers: abundant nourishment that stores while taking up the least space possible").

The brand's yellow background underlines the banana ingredient, and the Senegalese infantryman's red and blue uniform make up the other two main colours. The slogan Y'a bon ("It's good") derives from the pidgin French supposedly used by these soldiers (it is, in fact, an invention).

On May 19, 2011, the Movement Against Racism and for Friendship Between Peoples (MRAP) obtained before the Versailles Court of Appeal that Nutrimaine, the company that owns the Banania trademark, stop the sale of products bearing the slogan "Y'a bon." In its ruling, the court ruled that Nutrimaine must remove "in whatever form and by whatever means, the manufacturing and marketing of any illustration on which the famous phrase appears." She imposed a penalty of 20,000 euros per day for each violation found.

Marketing

This brand of chocolate drink is recognized by its trademark the 'bonhomme Banania': a black man wearing a fez. The company started using this illustration in 1915.

Controversy

Some feel that the advertising slogans and images are racist and colonialist as it reinforces the cliché of a friendly yet stupid African.

See also

  • Aunt Jemima
  • Uncle Ben's
  • List of chocolate beverages

References

  • Banania commercial (in French)