Anani and Mensah Accoh, Africavi
Lai-momo, Bologna 2007, pp. 40 colours ¤ 10.00, in italian.
Set between the XVII and XIX century, Africavi tells the story of Africato, the king of a small African village, very fascinated by Western habits ad customs. Affected by the heat, he thinks to solve this problem organising an expedition in search of the famous European ice, the status symbol of Western moderity. As his son Africato is very bound to his African origins and habits, Africato sees this expedition as a good chance to civilize him. The journey in search of ice and modernity sees the company being involved in many different funny situations, from women abandoned by their husbands to adventures in the jungle, and it gradually starts to reveals the true importance of native traditions; even Africato will finally have to admit that Africa has his own laws that must be honoured and respected.
The authors
Togolese brothers Anani and Mensah Accoh, after scientific studies decided to devote themselves to their true passion: drawings. Just twenty-years old, they won the second prize for illustrators in the contest within the “Day against Aids” organised in Togo by the World Bank. Thereafter they begun to publish their works for different humanitarian campaigns. In 2005 the won the “Africa e Mediterraneo Award for best unpublished comics trip by African author” in the section “Creative comics - Free subject”. Africavi is their first personal album.