Africa-Press – Angola. Last Saturday, Palácio de Ferro hosted the launch of the book “Golpe Baixo e Jogo Sujo” by cartoonist and comic strip artist Sérgio Piçarra.
During the launch act, which had Tiago Costa as master of ceremony, Fernando Pacheco, Luísa Rogério and Teixeira Cândido took the floor. On the sidelines of the launch, an exhibition of Comics was inaugurated, with works by the author.
Fernando Pacheco, author of the book’s introductory text, recalled December 10, 2020, the date on which the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Democratic State and the Rule of Law was awarded to 15 personalities from countries on almost every continent, including which Sérgio Piçarra.
From the text we retain the beginning of the artistic trajectory under the direction of Henrique Abranches and then the creation of the characters Mankiko, the best known and his companion Fatita, as well as the children’s duo Esperança e o Futuro (always with torn pants), Bajulino and ends with the duo that gives title to the book “Low blow and Dirty Game”, created in February last year.
Journalist and former co-worker Luísa Rogério spoke of the initial phase of the young illustrator at press until the end of the controversial employment relationship.
Teixeira Cândido, on the other hand, valued the work of Sérgio Piçarra in the field of freedom of the press. Following the same line as previous speakers, the secretary general of the National Union of Journalists expressed concern about the restrictions that are being imposed and the persecution of members of the class.
Sérgio Piçarra lamented the absence of new values, as well as the lack of support for a project to train talent. Piçarra also did not spare the media for the omission of certain news figures and facts. In the book “Golpe Baixo e Jogo Sujo” in the characteristic trait of the cartoonist, paintings are presented where issues such as: the state of democracy, authoritarianism, municipalities, the fight against corruption, the implications of Covid, the electoral process, transparency in public tenders, strikes, limitations and persecution imposed on leaders of political parties and civil society, and other matters.
The book “Golpe Baixo e Jogo Sujo” was inspired by the two characters that emerged from the artist’s interventional exercise around the political and social approach he takes to the country. It is a collection of cartoons produced from 2011 to 2012, published in Novo Jornal, Expansão , Economy & Market and on the websites of DW and IstoéNotícia. The author defines it as “a drawn portrait of the problems we still have”. “It is a book of illustrations and stories based on Angolan daily life, with the clear intention of provoking a public debate around the social and political reflections contained therein, in order to awaken the critical awareness of the people through comics and the humour,” said the author.
Cartoonist and graphic designer, Sérgio Piçarra was born in Luanda, in July 1969. Disciple of Henrique Abranches, in 1990, he created in the pages of Jornal de Angola the character “Mankiko – O Imbumbável”, which is today the greatest reference of the national cartoon and was published for the first time by the Union of Angolan Writers, under the supervision of José Luandino Vieira. Sérgio Piçarra, one of the greatest Angolan cartoonists, is the author of the publications “Mankiko, o Imbumbável – Vamos Fazer Mais Como?”, “Gargalhada Setembrina” , “Só Vos Olha Já” and “Mankiko – Appreciating the Scenery… Nas Calms!”.
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