(Click to enlarge)

Inspired by the Ripley’s Believe It or Not comic strip, I created the Black History comic strip Our Roots during a school project at the end of my last year at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in New Jersey. As a Nigerian studying Cartoon Graphics in the U.S., I felt the need to educate about the neglected African history through my drawings. I remember going to a small library in the same town as my school where I researched images and information about Africa for my illustrated educational comic strip. My classmate, artist and good friend David Cuccia did the lettering for the feature. The format looked professional and was originally titled African Sketchbook.

The Our Roots Comic book launched in Brooklyn, New York during Black History Month in February.

While studying at the Art school, I had no idea that Black History month was celebrated in the U.S. every year in February. Originally it was call Negro History month. I was aware of African Americans identifying themselves with Africa. My intention was then to educate and let people know more about Africa, its people, achievements, places and things through my drawings and to be proud of their race. I eventually renamed the drawing Our Roots to cover Black people in the diaspora that is, in the Caribbean, the U.S., Europe, South America, Africa, Australia and so on. It was a move that would have many embracing the concept and use it for educational purposes. It’s a comic strip that also got syndicated in U.S. newspapers with special thanks to Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker. Our Roots was selected for exhibition at The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, one of the foremost American institutions for African contemporary art.

Britain celebrates Black History Month in October. Our Roots was featured in The Voice, a Black British newspaper, and many families cut out and pasted the comic strip into a scrap book for their children because of its educational contents.

Our Roots - featured in Helsingin Sanomat - the biggest subscription newspaper in Finland. (click to enlarge)

African American Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) began Negro History Week in 1926, later called Black History Month. He chose the second week of February to take in the birth dates of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key players in African-American history.

February is also the month when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. He was once the world’s most popular political prisoner who was jailed for twenty-seven years by the then apartheid regime that oppressed millions of Black South Africans. After the fall of apartheid, Mandela went on to become South Africa’s first elected Black President in 1994.

If there is a continent whose rich history and great achievements has been ignored, it is Africa. Black History celebration is not only about Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela or Marcus Garvey. Black History Month, cannot be celebrated without Africa, without which there would not be Black History. Through my comic drawings Our Roots, I have been able to educate and highlight the achievements, politically, socially and economically about the richness of Africa, an ignored continent that has contributed to history and will continue to contribute to the future. Only few know of our great African kings and queens, political leaders, scientists, writers, inventors, thinkers, and artists.  It was President Barack Obama, the first Black president of the U.S., who said, that there are many unsung heroes who are more worthy of receiving the Nobel Peace prize than him. Our Roots aims to do just that by featuring the unsung Black heroes and heroines worthy of mention and the known, on continuous basis.

In an increasingly violent world of ours, it has been an uplifting experience for me to be able to inspire positive aspirations in the young ones who through my images I have helped in directing their mind towards achievement. In furtherance of this, I have used the Our Roots comic strip to educate and provide source of hope for Black people and many others. Our Roots continues to highlight blacks in the diaspora whose forefathers were taken away as slaves from Africa.

Black people have helped shaped the destiny of the whole human race and have a history it can be proud of. These contributions will continue to play an important role in the way the history of the world is shaped.

Lest I forget, the only A+ mark I got while at Art school was for the  African Sketchbook project. It was something refreshing.

The original format of African Sketchbook from the Joe Kubert School before it became Our Roots. First published in a Nigerian magazine. (click to enlarge)

Tayo Fatunla's drawing of Donald Duck for his 75th anniversary celebration (Click to enlarge).

Undoubtedly, the most famous duck in the world is Walt Disney’s Donald Duck.

I had the opportunity to be tutored by Milt Neil, a great animator who worked on several animated features and movies for Disney Animation studios, most notably Dumbo the Elephant. I had the good fortune to work with Milt on a rabbit character called Mr. Popularity in my animation classes at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. Working with him at the school’s annex was as good as being in the Disney Studios. It certainly had that atmosphere as he gave so much insight into Disney’s animation.

On June 6, 2009, a celebration to mark the 75th birthday of Donald Duck was arranged in Norway by comics fan Tor Ødemark. Tor has published articles in various fan-magazines and he is crazy about Donald Duck and the history of the character. Donald is very well-known and well liked in Scandinavian countries.

I get invited to feature my work from time to time at various cartoon exhibitions and most often can only participate in select ones. Still, it’s always a honor to be invited. As part of the celebration, cartoonists from around the world were invited to draw his or her own interpretation of Donald. I was also invited to do a Donald drawing to mark the anniversary. Thanks to Professor Tejumola Olaniyan who linked me up wit Tor.

By Arild Midthuns, Norway (Click to enlarge).

Tejumola Olaniyan is Professor of African Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin. His major areas of teaching and research are African diaspora and post-colonial literary and cultural studies, and popular culture studies. He has a keen interest in political cartoons and African cartoonists  and he is currently at work on a book on political cartooning in Africa. They say variety is the spice of life and Tor felt the need for different interpretations of Donald. He never gave up on me until I delivered

I remembered my animation classes and felt that I would go back to the traditional form of drawing an animated character prior to the digital age. While drawing my own Donald, it was as if I could hear Milt looking over my shoulder, teaching me the art of animation. Such good memories.

Donald’s official birth date is June 9, 1934 (The Wise Little Hen was his debut film). The response to the Donald Duck invitation was overwhelming, and there were drawings from all around the world, from all ages (the oldest being 92). After the celebration was over, the exhibition began touring Norway.

The cartoonists who have contributed so far, include, Johan Andreasson (Sweden), Brian Blackmore (US), Olivier Bordier (F), Thomas Bunk (US), Arne Bye (Norway), Thierry Capezzone (France), Bira Dantas (Brazil), Ron Dias (US),

By Solveig Muren Sanden, Norway (Click to enlarge)

Al Feldstein (US), Ron Ferdinand (US), Bud Grace (US), Finn Graff (Norway), Grethe & Norunn (Norway), Charlotte Helgeland (Norway), Geoff Hook (Australia), Daan Jippes (Netherlands), Rob Klein (US), Pran Kumar (India), Vic Lockman (US), Frank Madsen (Denmark), Alex Maher (US), Barry McWilliams (US), Arild Midthun (Norway), Freddy Milton (Denmark), Nestablo Ramos Neto (Brazil), Knut Nærum (Norway), Gunnar Olsen (Norway), Solveig Muren Sanden (Norway), William van Horn (Canada), Monte Wolverton (US), Håkon Aasnes (Norway) and myself as a Nigerian cartoonist.

Each of the world’s 7 continents is represented. Tor states that plans are to donate the entire exhibition of original drawings to the National Cartoon Museum of Norway after it has traveled around the country and beyond.

Art museums, art exhibitors, galleries and art schools have been asking for the exhibition to be on display not only in Norway but the rest of Scandinavia. It is hoped that the tour will be more extensive in the years to come.

Happy Birthday again Donald.

By M’theto Lungu, Malawi

Me spending some time with famous Algerian cartoonist Slim (right).

What would the world be like without cartoonists?  It’s quite difficult to imagine.

At cartoon festivals, the public has the opportunity to meet their favorite cartoonists as they draw sketches for fans to take away, be it illustrations, cartoons, characters or caricatures.  Aspiring cartoonists also come to seek advice from the professionals. Not many cartoonists are bold enough to leave their comfort zone and mingle with other cartoonists anywhere else in the world, but I think it’s called networking.

Irish cartoonist Allan Cavanagh (left) and msnbc.com editorial cartoonist Daryl Cagle.

Two festivals continue to make impact on two continents. First, the Tourcoing Cartoon Festival in Tourcoing, France (Europe) and the Festival International de la Bande Dessinee d’Alger in Algiers, Algeria (Africa) popularly known as FIBDA.

Two women continue to champion the splendid display of drawings of cartoonists from around the world, Madame Francine Coppens lead the Tourcoing Festival while Madame Dalila Nadjem lead Algeria’s. Both are very well supported.

Last July’s cartoon festival in Algeria was a gathering of African cartoonists, while the one held this October was a gathering of cartoonists around the world, including special guest U.S. cartoonists Daryl Cagle of msnbc.com and Jan Eliot of the comic strip Stone Soup, who visited a women’s resource center. There were also manga artists showing young and enthused Algerians the Art of Manga comics.

Algerian cartoonists had their cartoons on display, including the legendary Slim. The gathering of cartoonists meeting each other, some for the first time, was a coup d’état for both festivals. The Algeria’s Festival improved on its first outing last year, and that’s a big compliment to Madame Nadjem and her team who left no stone unturned to make this another successful festival and turnout of cartoonists. It felt like being at the United Nations, especially when there were conferences about cartoons and comics. I enjoyed sketching for the enthused Algerian comic fans who also asked to take pictures with me.

Our group visit to Tipaza, a town on the Algerian coast, was a remarkable experience as we were taken on tour of the Roman ruins next to the beautiful sea.

Thanks for the memories Madame Coppens et Nadjem and a lovely way to boost tourism.

The beautiful holiday island of Mallorca was rocked recently by bomb explosions and fatalities caused by the Basque nationalism group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA).

With this in mind, I remember being a guest at the Comic Nostrum, a comics festival held there last May. There were thousands in attendance, and I had the opportunity of meeting Francina Armegol Socías, the president of the Consell Insular de Mallorca. I remember wondering, “what could be going through her mind?”

Tayo Fatunla draws Francina Armegol Socías, the president of the Consell Insular de Mallorca, at the Comic Nostrum cartoon festival in Mallorca.

Francinca was special guest at the courtyard of Mercy of Palma where the second edition of the Comic Nostrum took place, and in the same town where more bombs exploded. The festival is intended to boost tourism and raise awareness abroad and to provide coverage for artists and authors from Mallorca. I also had the opportunity to caricature her. She was especially amused with the exaggerated long nose I gave her.

The departments of the Presidency, Culture and Heritage and Youth and Equality of the Consell de Mallorca were fully supportive of this Festival.

This year the number of exhibitors were up to 58 and featured authors, comic artists, comic collectors and researchers of international standing. Notable attendees included Mariel Soria, well known for his series Maman, and British Comic historian Paul Gravette, who has been involved in comic publishing and promotion since 1981. Lectures, exhibitions, cartoon workshops and various activities were all part of the Comic Nostrum. Energetic Joan Miguel was busy coordinating to make the Festival a success and was keen for African comics to have more exposure.

All the African artists participating in the Picha comics exhibition (click to enlarge).

Picha, a comics exhibition at the festival presenting a colorful image of the richly checkered continent of Africa, was an initiative of NCDO, a Dutch organization promoting awareness of international cooperation based in the Netherlands. ‘Picha’ is the Swahili word for ‘drawing’ and a corruption of the English word ‘picture’.

The exhibition presents the work of 18 African comic artists and a scenario writer, and showcases their original drawings, comic books and published comics in newspapers and magazines. Caroline Veldhuizen of NCDO was at it’s opening. The exhibition has already toured the world, and will also be exhibited in Sao Paolo and Barcelona.

Palma’s mayor, Aina Calvo is aware of the damage the bombing can do to it’s tourism. She called for calm and is determined that life must go on, and I would think that supporting the comics festival again is also a way forward.

It is hoped that the festival will continue to support local and international artists and authors. It is also hoped that through the comics festival, people will be able to come back again and again and again without fear. Nothing should stop the introduction of African comics to Mallorca and the rest of the world. Not even the ETA.

Read more about the Picha exhibition here.

The African comic strip was given a pride of place among the Pan African Cultural Festival (PANAF) activities held recently under tight security in Algiers, the capital of the North African country of Algeria. The International Festival of the Comic held in Algeria is like none before it in Africa. When the Algerian Ministry of Culture decided to support this Comic Festival known in French as FIBDA, it brought together a total of over 20 cartoonists from French and English speaking African nations. More than 60 cartoonists from all around Africa had their works beautifully displayed at the festival‘s spacious hall. I had my OUR ROOTS drawings on African History formatted for display at the exhibition.

(From left to right) Comic Artists Tayo Fatunla (Nigeria), Frank Odoi (Ghana) and Mass (Mali).

Various styles and techniques were used to enhance the comics and cartoon strips on display including the use of computer software to enhance images. Amazingly, African Comic artists are up to date with the use of art materials for drawing. Cartoonists in attendance came from Senegal, Nigeria (I represented Nigeria), Algeria, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Ghana, Cote Divoire, Egypt, Togo, Republic of Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.

Many African comic strips and pages were on display at The Algerian Company of the Fairs and Exports (SAFEX), Algeria’s trade fair for exhibitions. I drew quick caricatures of the many people who came to view the comics on display and meet the artists.  Representing the Algerian Government, Culture Minister Madame Khalida Toumi, who also headed the Committee for the Comics Festival, was at hand to launch the official catalogue of African Artists produced by Algeria’s Ministry of Culture. Each African artist’s work and biography is featured in the book with perfect binding.

Highlights of the festival was going to watch Malian superstar Salif Keita perform by the Martyrs monument in Algiers. President of the Comics Festival, Madame Dalila Nadjem, and her team (Nazim Mekbel, Zak Hadji, Adnan Chouli) and many others took good take care of the invited Comic artists and made our stay memorable. The festival also invited young aspiring Algerian cartoonists who also mingled with the invited Comic artists to showcase their talents and seek advice from the experienced.

We try to find humor in our daily existence and at times try to tell stories, especially when we are going through rough patches in our lives. Politics and social ills seem so much less serious in the newspaper comic strip, and many find comfort in this funny form of art. Some find heroes and superheroes between the pages of a comic books, others learn valuable life lessons through educational images; but no matter what you take away from comics, these delightful sketches have become a part of our lives. This was a delight for many at the festival as there was not a dull moment with artists singing, dancing, making funny cartoon voices and telling their stories both through their pencils and pens as well as with their mouths.

The earliest form of cave art was from the old Kingdom of ancient Egypt. It can be said that Africa gave the world, art, part of which has now evolved into comic art. Cartoons may not necessarily change the world but can make an impact.