Chatting with Zapiro: ‘South Africans have a hell of a sense of humour’
Jonathan Shapiro, aka Zapiro, is an iconic South African cartoonist and activist.
Cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro - Zapiro. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Bengt Oberger
Relebogile Mabotja speaks with legendary South African cartoonist, Zapiro (aka Jonathan Shapiro).
Listen below.
Zapiro has been editorial cartoonist for the Sunday Times since 1998 and Daily Maverick starting 2017.
Between 1994 and 2016 he was the editorial cartoonist for Mail & Guardian and the Sowetan from 1994 and 2005.
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He is known for his clever and satirical cartoons which address critical issues in the country and the world.
“Cartoons are not about reporting on things… it is about attitudes. It is about communicating ideas.”
- Jonathan Shapiro, South African cartoonist, Zapiro
Shapiro says he is always looking for creative ways to highlight public issues, and let people see them in a new way.
“South Africans have a hell of a sense of humour, and that is a part of satire.”
- Jonathan Shapiro, South African cartoonist, Zapiro
His latest annual is ‘have I got GNUs for you’ and he addresses the latest things happening in our political space.
Many of these cartoons deal with Jacob Zuma, who he believes is the biggest threat to our Constitution.
After three decades in this space, he says it has become more difficult to do what he does, while holding on to his authentic voice.
With most of his cartoons being online and on social media, he says his work is sometimes taken out of context and the intent can be lost.
“It is harder to get that continuum and thread that people will know.”
- Jonathan Shapiro, South African cartoonist, Zapiro
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.