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News
Mandela's Story in Cartoons
FROM BEING BANNED TO BEING IDOLISED
As global attention is focused on the ailing Nelson Mandela, a recent radio interview and two online slideshows featuring South African cartoonists tells the story of the icon's life through editorial cartoons.
But Mandela's cartoonography is missing a few chapters, at least from a South African perspective. For one thing, the struggle hero's image was banned by the apartheid government's 'Banned Persons Act (1950)' which prohibited the quoting, referencing and depiction of political opponents.
And then, in about 1989 when those laws became relaxed, and in 1990 when they were lifted, cartoonists - starved of any graphic reference of the famous prisoner because of the ban - were stretched to imagine what he looked like after 27 years in prison.
The interview and slideshows tell how the cartoonists overcame these challenges and went on to produce perhaps the most positive cartoon narrative of any politician's life ever told.
More…ZUMA FINALLY BELTS UP!
PRESIDENT DROPS REMAINING CHARGES
In a brief announcement by his spokesperson Mac Maharaj on May 31st, President Jacob Zuma made it known that he is to drop all remaining defamation charges against various media entities.This follows last October's withdrawal of charges in Zuma's high profile case against cartoonist Zapiro. The latest decision was made in the interests of nation building, said the statement, but legal experts have suggested that the President would have risked more collatoral damage if he were to persue the cases than anything he had to gain.While Africartoons welcomes the news which we felt was inevitable, we remain cautious.Threats of an Anti-insult Law ('to protect the dignity of the presidency'), the state's commitment to the Secrecy Bill, and other measures aimed against free expression are evidence enough that this development does not signify a positive change in direction by the government. [READ ON]
More…Maggie Buys the Farm
CARTOONISTS BID FAREWELL TO A GREAT INSPIRATION
THE PASSING OF MARGARET THATCHER has ignited an explosion of obituary cartoons by a world of appreciative cartoonists - many of whom enjoyed ridiculing her in the 1980's; the decade of her prime.
Love or hate her politics (cartoonists tend towards the left and so were more inclined to the latter), "Maggie's" iconic style and powerful disposition brought inspiration to cartoonists the world over.
Indeed, she inspired an industry of satire in the form of theatrical plays, films, TV shows, paintings, songs and cartoons. BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz asks "Has any other post-war politician provoked so much artistic output?"Author and satirist John O'Farrell notes that ""the arrival of Margaret Thatcher was the cue for the rise of political cabaret, Not the Nine O'clock News and Spitting Image”.
And when the Soviet news agency TASS coined the term 'Iron Lady' (not realising then that she would outlast the Iron Curtain that they owed their existence to), cartoonists and satirists swooned at the gifted metaphor. [read on]
More…MEET SOLLY AND HIS TROLLEY
INTRODUCING MADAM & EVE’S NEW WALK ONSouth Africa’s most popular newspaper comic has a new character. This past week, Solly walked into Madam & Eve’s strip - and neighbourhood - opening up a whole world of prospects for stories and gags.Solly is immediately set upon by Mother Anderson, who has taken it upon herself to defend the neighbourhood against the likes of him and the lady who walks the streets selling mielies (corn) at the top of her voice. In fact, it soon turns out that these two scourges of middle class privilege already know one another!Solly’s trolly, filled to the brim with odds and ends (some of which will surprise you), is a prop that will surely prove to be a bottomless resource of material for the strip’s creators Stephen Francis (who writes), and Rico (who draws).
More…ZAPIRO DEFENDS HIS MACIA CARTOON
In a rare written response to criticism over his cartoons, Zapiro has come out in defence of his latest to cause a stir.The cartoon depicts the brutal torture by police of a Mozambican taxi driver, who later died.Many readers (in comments on our facebook page, and elsewhere) expressed outrage at what they saw as being a disrespectful depiction of the victim in a cartoon, while many others have said that it is fair comment in that it targets the perpetrators, not the victim.
More…Dr Jack at the Design Indaba
Cartoonist stamps his authority at CT event.
DR JACK'S 2006 Christmas themed 'Jungle Bells' range of stamps for the SA Post Office were revived at this year's Design Indaba in Cape Town last week, revealing interesting details of his process in creating the series.
More…STIDY: BEARING WITNESS
Cricket: Ifran vs Steyn
At almost 7 foot tall, Pakistan's Mohammad Irfan is the tallest fast bowler in the world. But, the Proteas' Dale Steyn is the fastest short bowler in the world!
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