CURTAIN RAISER: The program, CARTOON AFRICA INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL (CAIB) festival, was initiated in November, 2012, by Francis Umendu Odupute, an international media award-winning Nigerian journalist and visual artist. (Please watch our brief introductory video: https://youtu.be/vNmt8e64DOY. Also watch this engagement with teens/schoolchildren in one of the events in Benin City, Nigeria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFcYrZNqNck).
Every other year, since 2012, the CAIB festival has attempted to consistently bring together –through their artworks – international cartoonists, comic artists, illustrators, cartoon animators, photographers and other visual storytellers, to lend their voices and draw attention to vital development issues and concerns not given the attention they deserved, in favour of Africa’s productivity and sustainable development.
*How it all started:
On 31 January, 2019, Marina Ponti, Global Director a.i. of UN SDG Action Campaign sent an invitation letter to Mr. Odupute which stated in part: “…I am writing to invite you to join us at the SDG Global Festival of Action which will take place from 2 to 4 May 2019 at the World Conference Centre in Bonn (Germany) and feature the Africa International Biennial (CAIB) Traveling Cartoon Campaign in the Festival’s Exhibitions Zone.
“The Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development is a ground-breaking annual event powered by the UN SDG Action Campaign with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign Office and other partners,” Ponti wrote, adding that “The Festival gathers the global community taking action to make the SDGs a reality. With the assumption that the SDGs will only be achieved if everyone takes action, the Festival puts the spotlight on and celebrates innovators, mobilizers and change-makers who are transforming lives- through advocacy and inspiring actions- and who are joining the global movement for the SDGs.
“With over 1,500 participants from all over the world from a wide range of sectors (national and local governments, youth, civil society, private sectors, foundations, media and music sector) the SDG Global Festival of Action provides an unparalleled opportunity for scaling up and broadening the global movement for the SDGs and for forging new partnerships and coalitions for the SDGs….” Ponti wrote.
Eventually, a strategic “Cartoon Africa International Biennial (CAIB) SDG Cartoon Campaign…” held at the United Nations SDG Global Festival of Action which took place in Bonn (Germany) from May 2 to May 4, 2019.
From the UN SDG Global Festival of Action, the CartoonAFRICA SDG cartoon campaign started travelling when Bonnections, an NGO based in Bonn (Germany) wrote to Mr. Odupute, through its leader, Sandra Prufer, requesting for permission to use the cartoons for some advocacy events around Bonn. The request was granted by Mr. Francis Odupute, on behalf of the implementing partners of the CartoonAFRICA SDG cartoon campaign/workshops.
Bonnections toured some communities in Bonn with the cartoons as strategic advocacy and creative education tools…
*How the Build-up began:
As part of the Africa Liberation Day, Sandra Prufer, on Friday, May 24, 2019, sent out an email to Bonnection partners globally:
“Dear All, Here’s a photo album of today’s community event & opening of the CAIB Cartoon exhibit “The Future of Africa”. More pics to follow; All the best, Sandra.” The Engagement Team at Africans Rising, replied her email same day saying: “Dear Sandra, Thank you for reaching out to us about your event for 25th May. We welcome your initiative and would add it to our map and database of activities. Can you kindly share with us your publicity materials, so we can share via social media? You can also reach out to us if you need any support or assistance in regards to hosting your activity. Regards; Engagement Team, Africans Rising.”
The organization had been hinted earlier in an email by Sandra Prufer about the CartoonAfrica cartoon campaign, on Thursday, 23rd May 2019, at 15:48:
“Dear Imen & Africans Rising Team, Thanks for the info about the upcoming Africans Rising events and activities around the globe on May 25. At the very last minute, we are now again organizing a local African Liberation Day event this year. The “Africa of the Future” Cartoon exhibit will already open on Friday evening, but the the exhibit will be induded in a neighborhood walking tour organized by our Tannenbusch House friends on May 25.
“The anniversary celebration at the Tannenbusch House also includes a musical evening with Melchi, a young musician & singer-songwriter from Cameroon. At both events, we will present and/or read the Kilimanjaro declaration.
“Would it be still possible to add our #May2019 event to the global activitiy map? All the best; Sandra.”
The Bonnections team leader dropped a strategic quote in her email broadcast to all collaborating organisations: “Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own – indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.” ― Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011), Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Founder of the Green Belt Movement.
Sandra Prufer also dropped a special invite with some explanation on Bonnections’ collation with the CartoonAfrica team:
“You are cordially invited to an intercultural evening and Iftar community dinner on May 24 at the International Women & Family Forum in Tannenbusch. Join us to enjoy a traditional fast-breaking meal in the spirit of peace. The Iftar buffet opens after sunset (9.26 PM).
“Bonnections teamed up with the Cartoon Africa International Biennial (CAIB) to host an exhibit of the Cartoon artwork displayed earlier this month at the UN SDG Festival of Action and trigger a cross-cultural dialogue about the Sustainable Develpment Goals during the local SDG Days. #SDGGlobalfest. #Act4SDGS
“The “Africa of the Future” exhibit opens the day of the second global Fridays for Future strike (May 24) and on the eve of Africa Liberation Day (May 25). Therewith we like to hightlight the demands and connecting struggles of the global climate justice movement and the Africans Rising movement. Africans Rising calls in its Kilimanjaro Declaration to build a Pan-Affrican and global campaign that is:
– Expanding space for civic and political action
– Fighting for women’s rights and freedoms across society
– Focussing our struggles on the right to Equity and Dignity
– Demanding good governance as we fight corruption and impunity
– Demanding climate and environmental justice
The cartoons and other artwork will be displayed until June 1 at the forum during regular opening hours. The Forum also open its doors on May 25 (1 – 3 PM) for Africa Liberation Day and the Tannenbusch Tour (as part of anniversary celebrations)”, Sandra Prufer wrote.
(To be continued)
