African Colours hosts an interview with Nanda Soobben, one of the few political cartoonists with an international reputation. Soobben has been cartooning since he was 22, when he sketched Nelson Mandela while the president-to-be was still in prison. Well-known globally for being the only black political cartoonist in South Africa during the apartheid era, Soobben also lived and worked in Brazil and the United States; in both places, he left massive murals in his wake. He currently cartoons for the Daily News in Durban and is the owner of the Center for Fine Art Animation and Design.
From the interview with (and overly dominated by) African Colours' Sandi Wells:
SW: So, Nanda, do you ever apologise for your cartoons? I have read that death threats are standard issue for cartoonists who work in the political realm. I suppose that if you were afraid, you wouldn’t publicise your opinions.
NS: I owed no apologies for my cartoons! I said what I wanted to say if I believed it was the truth. The only time you have to be afraid is when you are not telling the truth. As a cartoonist, I don’t lie. I just exaggerate the truth.
I agree with "overly dominated"... This was not intentional. I had too many opinions but it was not my space to fill. My apologies. Sandi Wells
Posted by: Sandi Charlton Wells | February 10, 2011 at 02:54 AM
Sorry, just one more thing ... you state that Nanda Soobben "currently cartoons for The Daily News" but that is incorrect. He graciously offered his services for free but is still waiting for their response.
Posted by: Sandi Charlton Wells | February 10, 2011 at 04:35 AM
Correction made -- thanks, Sandi!
Posted by: Anna Clark | February 10, 2011 at 05:57 AM
Pleasure. I like your site, Anna. I wish that I could donate so that you could get out of the red. Maybe you should carry some ads. Best regards, Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Charlton Wells | February 10, 2011 at 09:53 AM