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*I still remember that I was living in the US when HIV/AIDS had a name. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) I later found out is the virus that causes AIDS.
I was living in a town in New Jersey called Randolph when the news broke about this disease, up to the extent that the fear of a mosquito biting and transmitting the disease was not a pleasant one at the time.
AIDS began as a very big news and I prayed for scientists to find a means to curtail it and save lives.
I also observed how news from the West systematically claimed that AIDS had its source from Africa. I resented that a lot. It took years of enlightening, informing and acting upon for something to be done about this disease.
AIDS is no respecter of anyone whether black or white. It has taken many lives including those of mothers and children and has had a great impact on society, both as an illness and as a source of discrimination around the globe.
It was during my invitation to the St-Just cartoon festival in France that this cartoon was conceived. It is the norm for cartoonists at the festival to draw cartoons, caricatures and do illustrations for visitors in attendance. Works of comic artists, cartoonists and illustrators are usually exhibited at the festival. A request by a visitor at the festival was for me to do one on AIDS, hence this visual done from and African perspective in less that thirty minutes. I copied it before letting go of the original.
Today is World AIDS Day, which is an opportunity for people all around the world to unite in the fight against HIV, pump more money into this cause and show support for people, not only in the West but in third world nations including nations in Africa. I do not underestimate how visuals can inform and educate.
EURweb.com contributor, TAYO Fatunla is an award winning Nigerian Comic Artist, writer and illustrator and Editorial cartoonist. He is a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Art school, The Kubert School, New Jersey. His cartoons are used for educational purposes in school books, Newsletters, journals and for presentations – www.tayofatunla.com
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