Migration, Emigration, and Immigration: African Cartoonists Draw the Lines

In the minds of many, cartoons evoke fun, amusement, or hilarity. As a medium of communication, the cartoon has the power to convey in a few deft strokes of the pen or brush what an editorial writer would labor to express in hundreds, even thousands, of words. The cartoon attests to the power of the graphic medium to deliver witticisms that may evoke in the viewer a spate of convulsive chuckles or bouts of laughter. Undoubtedly, the capacity of the cartoon to communicate with brevity, speed, and poignancy boosts its appeal and universality. Sadam Issa (2016) explains that this process is known in scholarly circles as the “pictorial turn,” as some readers favor its capacity to convey complex issues in simple terms. Yet, cartoons, especially editorial cartoons, command more than fleeting giggles. They elicit in the viewer long, thoughtful pauses that result from brooding over the broader and deeper implications...