Paul Pierrisnard
Godfrey Mwampembwa, pen name Gado (1969): In an era when truth is often throttled by power, cartoonist Godfrey Mwampembwa, popularly known as Gado, has carved out an unshakable legacy of artistic resistance. For over three decades, Gado has wielded his pen like a scalpel, dissecting hypocrisy, power abuse, and political absurdity across East and Central Africa and beyond. His art, unflinchingly satirical yet rooted in humanism, has made him one of the most influential and controversial cartoonists on the African continent.
From Dar es Salaam to the Drawing Desk
Born on August 6, 1969, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Gado’s political and artistic consciousness formed early. His father, a tourism official, regularly brought home international magazines like Newsweek and Time, along with comics like Tintin and Asterix. These shaped his early graphic sensibility. His mother, a schoolteacher, encouraged his love for drawing.
By age 15, Gado was already working as a freelance cartoonist for local publications. He briefly joined the Ardhi Institute in 1991 to study architecture but left a year later to pursue a cartooning opportunity with Daily Nation in Nairobi, Kenya—a decision that would define his career.
The Rise of a Regional Icon
In 1992, Gado became the resident cartoonist for Daily Nation, East Africa’s largest newspaper. From Nairobi, he offered a sharp outsider’s view of Kenyan politics, a perspective that broadened his appeal. Over the years, his work appeared in The Standard, The East African, New African, Le Monde, Courrier International, Der Standard, The Washington Times, Japan Times, and Deutsche Welle, among others.
Gado’s cartoons address local, regional, and global themes, often exposing the absurdities of bureaucracy, cronyism, religious hypocrisy, corruption, and power. His simple, clear lines hide a surgical satire that rarely spares the mighty.
Wanjiku: The Everywoman as Conscience
One of Gado’s most beloved creations is Wanjiku, a character inspired by a real-life political comment. When Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi dismissed public interest in constitutional reform, saying “Wanjiku doesn’t understand the constitution,” Gado responded by making her the voice of the people.
In his cartoons, Wanjiku is a working-class Kenyan woman who uses biting humor and calm logic to puncture political egos and expose injustice. Much like the people she represents, she’s often ignored—but never irrelevant.
The XYZ Show: Puppetry as Political Theater
In 2009, after years of development, Gado launched The XYZ Show, a satirical puppet show inspired by Spitting Image (UK) and Les Guignols de l’Info (France). A visual and political triumph, XYZ lampooned East African politicians with exaggerated puppets, slick writing, and sharp parody.
Despite its immense popularity—and multiple awards including Best TV Series at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013—the show drew the ire of officials. Yet Gado persevered, turning it into a pop culture phenomenon and a daring extension of his cartooning philosophy.
Targeted for Telling the Truth
With satire comes risk. Gado has faced death threats, court cases, and editorial censorship for his bold portrayals of presidents, religious leaders, and military strongmen.
In 2016, after over two decades at Daily Nation, he was fired, allegedly under pressure following a cartoon mocking Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. The image showed Kikwete as a Roman emperor surrounded by women labeled “corruption,” “cronyism,” and “incompetence.” Gado’s dismissal sparked regional and international outcry.
He then joined The Standard newspaper until 2022 and expanded his work with Deutsche Welle (DW) in Swahili, ensuring that his voice remained active despite institutional efforts to silence him.
Courage and Recognition
Gado’s impact has been acknowledged globally. His awards and honors include:
- International Olympic Media Award (1996)
- Cartoonist of the Year, Kenya (1999)
- Prince Claus Award (2007) for “Culture and Conflict”
- Visionaries Award (Ford Foundation, 2011)
- Cartooning for Peace Award (2016), presented by Kofi Annan
- Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 2022)
In 2014 and 2016, New African magazine listed him among the 100 Most Influential People in Africa.
Style and Legacy
Gado’s cartoons typically lack captions, yet speak volumes. His satire isn’t just about mockery—it’s about justice, accountability, and democracy. While he initially avoided caricaturing specific individuals, his later work became bolder, directly depicting figures like Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, and Donald Trump.
A vocal supporter of Pan-Africanism, Gado reveres figures like Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, and Nelson Mandela. His work aligns with their vision of African unity and sovereignty, critiquing leaders who fall short of these ideals.
Books and Contributions
Gado’s work has been compiled in several books:
- Abunuwasi (1996)
- Demo-Crazy (2000)
- The End of an Error (2006)
- Crisis…? What Crisis?! (2012), with a foreword by Kofi Annan
He is co-founder of Buni Media and has served on the boards of Cartoonists Rights Network, Cartooning for Peace, and various journalism associations across East Africa.
The Cartoonist Who Won’t Be Quiet
Gado’s career is a testament to the power of satire in the fight for truth. Whether through a pencil or a puppet, he has used humor to challenge authoritarianism, elevate public discourse, and defend freedom of expression.
In an era of shrinking press freedoms, Gado remains a beacon—a cartoonist who speaks for the people, even when power tries to silence him.
Read also: African Comic Artists: Visionaries of Storytelling, Resistance, and Cultural Pride
