The Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, will from November 9 to December 20 play host to an exhibition of African comics titled Picha, African Comics. The Swahili word for 'drawing,' Picha is a mispronunciation of the English word 'picture.'

The Centre, after its successful inaugural curatorial project, Democrazy featuring the provocative works of artists like Ghariokwu Lemi, Ndidi Dike and George Oshodi, is pleased to present its first international touring exhibition from the Netherlands, Picha, African Comics.

An international touring exhibition, Picha, will be shown in two venues, the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, in Sabo and at the Yusuf Grillo Art Complex Gallery, YabaTech.

"Whilst comic art is popular in Nigeria with major newspapers providing substantial outlet for the development of the art form, few opportunities are available for its professional presentation within professional exhibition spaces let alone those from other African comic artists."

African comics are seen as a reflection of Africa's (political) reality. The successful comic series Aya de Yopougon, written by Ivorian Marguerite Abouet for instance, is a soap in drawings with love, arguments and adultery taking the centre stage. Yet, this comic is set in the tranquil 70s of the last century, when civil war in Ivory Coast was still very far away.

A twofold project, Picha features the work of 18 comic artists and one scenario writer, drawn from all over the continent showing their original drawings, comic books and the comics published in newspapers and magazines. In addition, a database has been set up which contains detailed information about comic artists and cartoonists from 55 African countries.

The exhibition started at the Afrika Museum in the Netherlands between April to August, 2008, and is now travelling to the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, between November to December, 2008. In March 2009, it will go on to the Museum of Art in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

With the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Netherlands, the exhibition presents original drawings, comic books and published comics by the selected illustrators in newspapers and magazines. These comics come from all over Africa and show us a glimpse of the diversity and richness of the African comic culture. Every comic artist on show links to a theme that goes into the characteristics of the African comic world in depth. Visitors will get the chance to encounter a different and rather unknown side of Africa: comic artists who use their comics as a means of art, information and communication to create an image of their reality.

"Comic, as an art form, captures the heart of the young, the old and the in-between and the African comic is doing well. African comic artists are active throughout the continent, comic festivals are being organised and many comic magazines published. Senegal broadcasts a popular television series based on a comic character (Googoorlu), the life of Mandela has been told in comic form in South Africa and they use comics to warn soldiers about the dangers of AIDS in Ethiopia."

Organised by Joost Pollmann, managing director at the Stripdagen in Harlem and a comic journalist for the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant. Picha an initiative in promoting awareness of international cooperation.

Representing Nigeria in the exhibition is Kola Fayemi. Born in Ile-Ife in 1957, Fayemi schooled at Yaba College of Technology and graduated as an Illustrator. The cartoonist, who considers himself a 'self-convinced Christian' has had his illustrations appear in publications like Lagos Weekend, Punch Newspapers, New Age Newspapers, Literamed Publications and Nelson Publications among many others. He also makes drawings for NNPC and Afribank as well as designs story boards for popular TV soap operas like super story and is the author of the Terror Muda published in the Vanguard Newspapers. His cartoons on display dwells on police brutality and the reality of the existence of HIV/AIDS.

Other comic artists whose works were on display at the ongoing exhibition include;

T.T. Fons from Senegal; Themba Siwela from South Africa; Patrick Essono alias PahÈ from Gabon; Frank Odoi from Ghana; Didier KassaÔ from Central African Republic; Eric Andriantsialonina, alias Dwa; Bob Kanza from Congo; Kola Fayemi and Tayo Fatunla, both from Nigeria; RamÛn Esono EbalÈ from Equatorial Guinea; Adjim Danngar from Chad; Farid Boudjellal from Algeria; Marguerite Abouet from Ivory Coast; Jean Claude Ngumire from Rwanda; Hector Sonon from Rep. Of Benin; Pat Masioni from D. R. Congo; Mohammed Nadrani from Morocco; Barly Baruti from D. R. Congo; Karliendo Villiers from South Africa.