Review of Arts and Humanities

Cartooning Contemporary Sub-Saharan African Experiences: A New Perspectivei
Philip A. Ojo

Abstract
This essay critically analyzes the distinct meanings and aesthetics of three outspoken political cartoons that use haunting images and captions to picture contemporary sub-Saharan African issues--political corruption, social and economic privations, and conflicts. The selected cartoons--Jonathan Shapiro’s “Elections in Zimbabwe” (2005), Popa Mutumula’s “Conflicts and Corruption” (2004), and Tayo Fatunla’s “Still Waiting for a Better Nigeria” (2005)--criticize corrupt social conditions so uniquely that their undeniable rhetorical power overshadows concerns about aesthetics. Drawing upon a wide range of theoretical works, the paper argues that cartooning can be used as a springboard for criticism, mediation, and social change in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/rah.v4n1a8