  Some new algebraic structures related to the coloured Yang-Baxter equation,
and termed coloured Hopf algebras, are reviewed. Coloured quantum universal
enveloping algebras of Lie algebras are defined in this context. An extension
to the coloured graded Yang-Baxter equation and coloured Hopf superalgebras is
also presented. The coloured two-parameter quantum universal enveloping algebra
of $gl(1/1)$ is considered as an example.
