TrendsWide
Contact US
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • NBA
  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
TrendsWide
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • NBA
  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
TrendsWide
No Result
View All Result
Home Euro

How are political cartoonists in the MENA region drawing attention to social issues?

by souhaib
November 20, 2020
in Euro
0
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT


You might also like

Angela Merkel given Moderna as second COVID-19 jab after having AstraZeneca as first injection

German stadiums to display rainbow colours during Hungary match in defiance of UEFA ban

Taliban take key Afghan district, adding to string of gains

The lot of political cartoonists in the Middle East & North Africa region is not an easy one.

In their native countries, many of these artistic activists’ face censorship, persecution, imprisonment or worse, for putting pen to paper.

Sudanese political artist Khalid Albaih lives in Denmark. His caricatures & criticism of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, have made it impossible for him to live in his homeland.

Romanian-born & Qatar-raised, the son of a diplomat has always been surrounded by politics.

Through countless exhibitions and via social media, the activist has been tirelessly trying to dispel mistruths about Sudan and the wider region.

Most famously, his works were emblazoned on walls and banners across the Middle East & 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’s not full on art, so we talk to everyone.”

Creative freedom

Keen to connect the global artistic community, Albaih founded a digital platform called FADAA, putting artists in touch with patrons offering them places to showcase their work.

His aim is to build an artistic ecosystem and foster a creative sharing community in the MENA region, whilst promoting freedom of speech.

“Freedom of speech is a big issue, and there’s a lot of debate around its limits. Limits that you give yourself, or others give you,” he says. “But I think for an independent political cartoonist, the most important thing is knowledge of what you’re talking about & its implications.”

Homeland hopes

When asked about how connected the Sudanese diaspora in Europe were to political events that have taken place in his homeland in recent years, Albaih expressed a sense of solidarity:

“The Sudanese diaspora had a huge impact on what happened in Sudan last year, which is the revolution that toppled 30 years of the dictatorship of Omar Al-Bashir,” he says. “What we did, as that diaspora, is try to magnify & tell the world about this place called Sudan, where most of the news you hear of is negative. We are trying to undo this with a positive, peaceful revolution. Because we all know what could be of this of this country, and what good there could be for the world as well.”

Egyptian satire

One of Egypt’s most famous and influential female cartoonists is Doaa el-Adl.

She is bravely drawing lines through global religious & political stereotypes, whilst highlighting the plight of women in her country by touching upon socially taboo topics like divorce & domestic violence.

Embarking upon her career 13 years ago, el-Adl initially struggled to be accepted into the male-dominated cartooning industry.

More serious challenges, however, have come in recent times, from political & religious groups threatening her personal safety and looking to silence her.

If anything, says the activist, the opposite has happened.

“When the Muslim Brotherhood were in power I drew [cartoons] against them. I criticized them and they accused me of insulting Islam – which is not true,” el-Adl told Inspire. “I criticized the way they mixed religion with politics, because they used religion to convince people about political things. So, I kept going and I drew more cartoons.”

Drawing on history

Whilst political cartoonists like Albaih & el-Adl come in for much criticism from some quarters, the attention they are drawing to important issues in their country would seem to paint a far bigger picture.

They are heralded by many as pen-wielding warriors, giving new life to an artistic form of political commentary that dates back many decades in the MENA region.

Arguably one of the best-known & original regional satirists was Palestinian Naji al-Ali who, from the 1960s onwards, fearlessly criticized Arab regimes and Israel through his artwork until his assassination in 1987.

SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA: HERITAGE

Tony from Lebanon animated these ladies, cooking Arabic date cookies via Zoom.

Dubai-based Palestinian artist Dina drew this mural to illustrate the Emirati people.

With contributions from Nancy Sarkis and Arthur de Oliveira.



Source link

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Telegram
  • Email
Tags: euronews
Share30Tweet19
Previous Post

Trump Twitter ‘hack’: Dutch police question researcher

Next Post

British actress Charlotte Kirk speaks out after affairs with Hollywood titans

souhaib

Recommended For You

Angela Merkel given Moderna as second COVID-19 jab after having AstraZeneca as first injection

by souhaib
June 22, 2021
0

Angela Merkel has received the Moderna vaccine has her second inoculation against COVID-19 having had the AstraZeneca jab as her first dose, the German Chancellor"s office said on...

Read more

German stadiums to display rainbow colours during Hungary match in defiance of UEFA ban

by souhaib
June 22, 2021
0

German stadiums will display rainbow colours during the country"s match against Hungary at the European Championship on Wednesday after UEFA rejected host city Munich's plan to do the...

Read more

Taliban take key Afghan district, adding to string of gains

by souhaib
June 22, 2021
0

Taliban fighters took control of a key district in Afghanistan"s northern Kunduz province on Monday and encircled the provincial capital, police said, as the insurgent group added to...

Read more

WHO expresses concern over eased restrictions at EURO 2020 matches

by souhaib
June 22, 2021
0

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday expressed concern about the easing of restrictions by some of the EURO 2020 host countries.The UN agency, which refused to name...

Read more

Northern Ireland: DUP leader-to-be Jeffrey Donaldson calls for ‘decisive action’ on Brexit protocol

by souhaib
June 22, 2021
0

Northern Ireland"s largest political party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is to choose Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as its new leader -- after a turbulent period in which it...

Read more
Next Post

British actress Charlotte Kirk speaks out after affairs with Hollywood titans

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • NBA: The Cavaliers want Ricky Rubio back
  • 19 million for eating with Warren Buffett | Opinion
  • Harris “never believed” the position of Trump’s nominees to the Court
  • In the United States, a Louisiana judge blocks the ban on abortion, the legal battle begins
  • J Balvin celebrates the first year of his son Rio

Browse by Category

  • Australia
  • Automotive
  • Business
  • Celebrity
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Deals
  • Economie
  • Education
  • Euro
  • Forex
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • NBA
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Sports
  • Switzerland
  • Trending
  • U.S.
  • Uncategorized

Categories

  • Australia
  • Automotive
  • Business
  • Celebrity
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Deals
  • Economie
  • Education
  • Euro
  • Forex
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • NBA
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Sports
  • Switzerland
  • Trending
  • U.S.
  • Uncategorized

Pages

  • Contact US
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2021 - TrendsWide

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Contact US
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trending
  • U.S.
  • Economie
  • Deals
  • Reviews
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • NBA

© 2021 - TrendsWide