Cartoon drawing referred as inferior profession
Cartoon drawing is still a neglected talent in Rwanda by artists who are gifted with the talent but divert to other professionals respected by the society like accountancy and finance, famous cartoonist in Rwanda revealed.
Some people knew that cartoons were meant for children entertainment but today things have changed, the best way to send messages is through cartoons, as noted by Adolph Banza, operational director of Digital Media Professional.
Adolph, a prominent cartoonist with igihe.com website, started cartoon drawings at the early age of four using pencils and chalks at school to draw funny pictures for his schoolmates.
“I started drawing pictures when I was four years of age and I would use my fingers to draw in mud, later I started using pencils and chalks at school and of course my parents encouraged me more to be an artist by profession”, Adolph Banza, said.
When I was young, I used to like KWAKU drawings from France, which has inspired me to pursue drawing cartoon as a profession. Although at campus I studied electronics but since art was my passion, I had to switch to it again as a job, added by Adolph.
Normally, Adolph sells his cartoon pictures to NGOs and news outlets where by a month it earns him 300 USD to 500 USD. But to him as time goes on in Rwanda cartoonists will be paid good money because of the message given through it.
In 18th century, cartoon was meant to entertain kids but later as it was hard for under privileged people to raise their voice. Cartoon drawings acted as their savior as the message could spread widely without difficulties, for example the slaves in South America used carton paintings to show how they were being treated badly.
In Rwanda most of my colleagues who are good in cartoon drawing have joined electronics, because they are still bounded by the traditional ways where parents used to believe that drawing was meant for student with shallow knowledge in class, Adolph continues to share his concern about the profession.
Adolph also says that, some artists draw cartoons for money just but without the passion which creates a big confusion for viewers to understand the message passed through the cartoon.
In Rwanda there is no any association for cartoonists but the government at least has introduced two schools that teach arts, graphics and animations, for example Art and Graphics school in Kacyiru sponsored by the government.
“I believe that cartoon artists in Rwanda can earn much from the cartoons, if they get away with that traditional way of thinking that it’s not respected for someone to draw cartons”, Adolph revealed.
Adolph also calls up young people who have got the passion of drawing to continue and pursue it as a profession because it’s no longer tiresome work like it used to be. The new technology of using tablets and research on internet makes it easier.
Despite the technology in carton drawing from traditional ways of using pencils to tablets, Adolph still believes in the use of pencils with his own hands because he feels it more passionate than using tablets.
Currently cartoons are loved by all ages from kids to adults because it’s kind of pictures that a deeply imbedded with the message which catches people’s minds with that entertaining part of it.
“Personally I love animated movies like I robot of will Smith and Tom and Jerry cartoons awesome, even when am reading news papers I focus more on cartoons because most of information that the journalist cannot simply reveal is embedded in cartoon pictures” Assie Ingambire, cartoon addict.
Being a famous cartoonist in Rwanda, Adolph still loves music and being an artist together with his single status makes his life enjoyable as he jokes around while winding up the conversation.
In general, Rwandan cartoonist believe that cartoon drawing needs devoted time, efforts, sharp mind and above all talent because most of them started drawing when they were young and they have feelings that the best way to reach out a message is through cartoon pictures, where people can read the message through entertainment.
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