How One Egyptian Combated Colonialism Through Satirical Cartoons
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Loading... - Enrique Pantoja
- 21 Jun 2022
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In the winter of 1907, a former Egyptian army officer of the Orabi Revolt tried to combat colonialism once more – this time through satirical illustrations.
When Abdul Hamid Zaki founded his illustrative magazine, he aimed to provide a platform for nationalist commentary and colonial struggle that could reach children and adults, illiterate or literate.
To the Egyptians, it was known as Al-Siyasa Al-Musawara (Politics Illustrated). To the colonialists, it was satirically called Cairo Punch, referring to England’s very own satirical magazine, Punch.
“In journalism, I noticed an empty space and so I occupied it, and in politics, I saw a lack so I made it up…a newspaper silent of tongue but expressive of inner feelings, symbols, and gestures that make it unnecessary to communicate with proclamations,” explained Zaki in the first edition of his magazine.
Cairo Punch was by no means the most informative nationalist press present at that time. But through Zaki’s political caricatures and political commentary, he helped raise global awareness of Egypt’s fight for independence against colonial powers – reaching audiences as far as New York and Tokyo.
Zaki would go on to circulate monthly illustrations from 1907 until 1923, while in Bologna due to exile. Not much is known of the illustrator beyond 1923, but his works remain; a documentation of the Egyptian nationalist struggle against colonialism.
‘THE MODERN CIVILIZATION OF EUROPE’, 1908-1914
France and England are illustrated toasting a drink over the corpses of Moroccan and Egyptian martyrs, referencing the fire of Casablanca and the Denshawy Riot.
‘THE ENGLISH COUNCILLORS’, 1908-1911
Sir Eldon Gorst, British Consul-General in Egypt from 1907 to 1911, puppeteering Egypt’s ministers: ‘War Ministry’, ‘Interior’, ‘Foreign’, ‘Justice’, ‘Works’, and ‘Finance’, indicating Gorst’s control over the Egyptian government.
UNTITLED ILLUSTRATION, 1908
