Mozambique.
Mozambique
1976
Mozambican comics are a small scene, tied closely to politics and newspaper cartoons.
The best-known early work is Xiconhoca, a caricature of the traitor to the new nation published by FRELIMO's Office of Mass Communications in 1976. Justino António Cardoso began publishing comics on the history of resistance to Portuguese rule in Tempo in 1978. Since the 2000s artists such as Adérito Wetela and Laércio George Mabota have won the Africa e Mediterraneo prize for unpublished comic strips.
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9
1976
2000s
Artists from Mozambique in the archive.
Comics from Mozambique in the archive.
Xiconhoca, the earliest comic from Mozambique in the archive.
The decade when the most new comics from Mozambique began.
banda desenhada
Mozambique in 3 chapters
A short history you can leaf through. Click a page, use the arrow keys, or press Turn the page to read on.
Mozambique.
3 chapters
Chapter 1
1976
to 1984
Revolution and independence
1976
to 1984
Chapter 01
Revolution and independence
FRELIMO's Office of Mass Communications published the Xiconhoca cartoons in 1976 to show the unpatriotic citizen of the newly independent country. Justino António Cardoso's first comics, about the history of resistance to Portuguese rule, appeared in Tempo in 1978. Between 1979 and 1984 he worked with FRELIMO and made posters for President Samora Machel.
2002
to 2008
Chapter 02
Prizes for unpublished comic strips
Adérito Wetela won the Africa e Mediterraneo prize for best unpublished comic strip by an African author in 2002 with A Lenda da Leoa da Montanha. Laércio George Mabota won it three times, for the 2003 to 2004, 2005 to 2006 and 2007 to 2008 editions. In 2005 Cardoso began using comics for public-sector reform.
2009
to today
Chapter 03
Cartoonists, books and exhibitions
Cardoso published a drawn history of Mozambique in 2009 and showed exhibitions on Samora Machel in 2011 and Eduardo Mondlane in 2012. Sérgio Zimba published As Camisinhas in 2011 and in 2013 marked more than twenty-five years of cartooning with an exhibition in Maputo. Younger artists such as Muzilene also draw children's comics.
The comics to know
- Xiconhoca1976 · comic stripFRELIMO Office of Mass Communications. Caricature series of the traitor to the new nation, aimed at both literate and illiterate people.
- Massassanegraphic novelMachado da Graça and Crisóstomo Zefanias. Comic biography of the Swiss doctor René Gagnaux.
- Ualalapigraphic novelAdérito Wetela. Comic loosely based on the novel by Ungulani Ba Ka Khossa.
- A Lenda da Leoa da Montanha2002 · comic stripAdérito Wetela. Prize-winning unpublished comic strip.
- A Profecia2003 · comic stripLaércio George Mabota. Prize-winning comic with a female superhero.
- As Camisinhas2011 · comic stripSérgio Zimba. Book of cartoons published in Maputo by Auria.
The people to know
- Justino António CardosoBorn 1960Cartoonist from Nampula whose first comics appeared in 1978.
- Adérito WetelaBorn 1978Maputo comic artist and prize winner.
- Laércio George MabotaThree-time prize winner known for a female superhero.
- Sérgio ZimbaNewspaper cartoonist for more than twenty-five years.
- Leilo AlbanoBorn 1978Maputo cartoonist and graphic designer.