POLITICAL CARTOONS

 

 

Political cartoonists in the Middle East and North Africa are not leading an easy life.  In their native lands, many of these artists face censorship, persecution even imprisonment just for drawing satirical cartoons.

 

Sudanese political artist, Khalid Albaih, lives in Denmark.  His caricatures and criticism of the former Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir have made it impossible for him to live in his country.  Born in Rumania, and brought up in Quatar, being the son of a diplomat, he was always enveloped by politics.

With numerous exhibitions and social media, the activist has been constantly and increasingly trying to dispel false news about the Sudan and the surrounding area.  Albaih’s works were painted on walls and banners, across the Middle East and North Africa, by protesters and street artists during the Arab Spring.

 

“For me the Arab Spring is still going on.  Its outcomes are still happening,” Albaih told “Inspire Middle East’s” Rebecca McLaughlin Eastham, “And I believe cartooning will always be a strong way to convey a message.  It’s in the middle, it’s not journalism and it is not full of art, so we spoke to everyone”.

 

Keen to connect the world’s artistic community, Albaih founded a digital platform called FADAA, putting artists in touch with patrons offering them places to show their work.  His aim is to build an artistic ecosystem and encourage a creative sharing community in the MENA region, whilst promoting freedom of speech.

 

“Freedom of speech is a big issue and there is a lot of debate about its limits.  Limits that you give yourself of others gave you”, he said.  “But I think for an independent political cartoonist, the most important thing is knowledge of you are talking about and its implications.”