The Four Color Media Monitor

Africa News tells how the medium's gaining ground in Cameroon:

Comic books are a booming genre in Cameroon, but limited funds means not many copies of stories are produced.

Artist Francky Mindja of the Legend Arts Studio is creating a new story called ‘Samba’s Handkerchief’ on his iPad.

It tells the tale of Martin Paul Samba, a hero of Cameroon’s resistance to German colonisation in the 19th century. Production of the book is funded entirely with money raised online.

‘The book will be produced in three volumes, followed by the animation stage, because we also aim to make it into a cartoon, so in 2D,’ he says.

It's an interesting way to make use of the medium, by building on history. Something mainstream USA comics aren't doing to any good effect. And if south African countries are investing in animation, that too could prove an excellent challenge. So I wish these creators good luck in gathering the funds they'll need to better produce their stories.

Since we're on the subject of Africa, Stars & Stripes had another report about Black Sands Entertainment, and the veteran army couple managing the company:

Six years ago, Manuel and Geiszel Godoy were only looking to fill a need for their daughter and children like her. But they ended up exceeding those expectations.

Mr. and Mrs. Godoy, owners of Delaware-based Black Sands Entertainment, were unable to find children’s books and comics that represented their family and its Black heritage.

They realized how such representation is still something with which the entertainment industry struggles. While there are a few examples — such as “Black Panther” — Black characters, directors and content creators remain the minority in the entertainment world and face additional struggles while trying to make it there.

So the Godoys started their enterprise as a way to diversify the field, by introducing Black characters and storylines in their comic books.

“We saw a need just to do stories on African history before slavery. We wanted to connect with that aspect because it’s never really been told before. So we focus on all the different countries around Africa and other Indigenous groups, too,” said Mrs. Godoy, whose company’s books also extend to the Incan and Malaysian cultures.

They started Black Sands to tell stories of strong Black characters set in those early days of history before colonization. Established in 2016, their empire has grown to 25 titles. The most popular series is “Black Sands,” about important Black pharaohs and their families in ancient Egypt and surrounding areas.

[...] Along with looking to grow into animation, Black Sands has launched an app to help Black creators reach larger audiences and a podcast to share secrets of indie publishing success.

The Godoys said they would love to bring their books into more schools, too. They have some Southern states onboard but are aiming to expand farther, with Delaware chief among those regions.

As I may have said before, they're doing the right thing to focus on their own productions and creations, rather than rely on DC/Marvel for this. If their creations had been part of the Big Two's universes today, it's a foregone conclusion they'd be watered down into leftist pandering. So again, I wish them good luck in marketing their products, and if they retain ownership, they're doing the right thing there.

Labels: Africa, animation, conventions, Europe and Asia, history, indie publishers, technology