UNTIL recent years, African representation was practically non-existent in the world of comic-book heroes – born in the West. South African artist Anathi Hadebe is among the artists changing this with an African take on comic art and animation.
Hadebe, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, began studying fine art at Durban University of Technology before moving to Johannesburg to complete his studies in animation and make his mark in the art industry.
As a youngster, growing up reading comic books, Hadebe said African representation was scarce.
“It does a lot to active confidence if a child grows up and sees a black superhero. Imagine if Superman was black and if children grew up seeing themselves in that image. It makes such a difference. Instead, we were looking up to someone who didn’t look like us,” said the artist.
What’s more, he believes comic art can help to redefine the way the world sees South Africa.
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“South Africa hasn’t been represented the right way, and it’s up to us to represent our country. It’s not just about clothing or culture; it’s about experiences. As an artist, I am questioning what the African experience is – at the moment it’s a question that everyone in Africa needs to answer. There are so many facets to explore, for example, think of the community living on the Cape flats – no one has ever documented what life is like in terms of people’s experiences there. The past can tell us where we are going, but it doesn’t represent our experiences now,” said Hadebe.
Animation and film
Hadebe has a passion for animation and filmmaking – and it all begins with comic art.
“Comic books are storyboards just waiting to be films. I was drawn to animation because I wanted to see my drawings move. My biggest dream is to direct and produce one of the best animated films in Africa and to give back to the youth – they need us,” said Hadebe.
The artist is well on his way to achieving this dream. Hadebe has is one of 10 artists working on Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a 10-part animated anthology created by up-and-coming talent across Africa. The animated series, brought to life by Disney and Triggerfish, will premiere on Disney+ this year.
Hadebe also recently directed Naledi, an animated short film written by Lola Aikins. The film will be released on the same day that Comic Con Africa opens: September 22. The film tells the story of a grief-stricken athlete who injures herself and has to find a way to get her life back on track.
“This was the first time I directed a film. The process was tricky, but it was a great experience, and I learnt a lot. The story goes deeper than a story about an athlete. It’s about running, but also running toward what you want in life,” said the filmmaker.
Artists who have inspired Hadebe include Mike Mignola, Lesego Vorster, Wonderboy Gumede and Musgrave comic artist Luke Molver (Billy Pineapples).
“Billy pushed me to work harder – he showed me there are opportunities in this field, especially if you can draw. I wanted to be a filmmaker, but [Molver] showed me that I didn’t need to wait to become a filmmaker; I could start with comic art,” said Hadebe.
What is Vovo Stayela ?
With his niche work, Hadebe has a growing following on Instagram. Visitors to his page, art_of_chapter_six, will find an explosion of bold line and colour that brings African culture to life with iconic comic-style art.
“I am a sixth-generation artist in my family – Chapter Six in a line of people who work with their hands – carpenters, potters, crafters and artists. I am the first in my family to work in animation. I couldn’t have done this without my family’s support and the support of my girlfriend, Nosipho Mgcobo. She believed in me. I wouldn’t be where I am if she didn’t push me,” said Hadebe.
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The artist described his style as Vovo_stayela. The word, vovo refers to a stick used to stir Zulu beer and stayela is colloquial for style.
“Vovo_Stayela is about taking knowledge from the Western comic world and translating it into an African art language – a way for African kids to see themselves represented in comics, short films and animation,” said Hadebe.
Hadebe has created a comic book entitled 2060, which tells the story of time travel and space invasion. This has not yet been released.
