VISUAL artist-cum-author Jack Bakasa has published the first Zimbabwean manga anthology titled KalaBash with the support of the British Council, The Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation as well as Kay Media Africa.
Manga is comics, cartooning or graphic novels originating from Japan.
Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art.
The rich diversity of Japanese manga ranges from satire and social commentary, young men’s manga and hero manga for youths, which emphasise that heroes face challenges in pursuit of victory; while the girls’ manga reveals the lives, feelings and inner thoughts of girls involved in complications of romance.
Bakasa told NewsDay Life & Style that persuasive and engaging communication is key to achieving success in all aspects of life as observed in manga artistry which helps in engaging people persuasively without being offensive or pushy.
“The anthology, KalaBash, is a collection of Zimbabwean contexts driven creativity which entertains and encourages the youth to pursue their life goals positively,” he said noting that KalaBash was a revolutionary online manga anthology series produced by Afrotokyo and is also available in print.
“The KalaBash was scribed by talented and socially conscious mangaka (Japanese term for a manga artist) and the anthology includes four stories namely Rebel Woman by Nyasha Primos Madakadze and Kudzai Nyamurowa, Mutupo by Kudakwashe Rwizi (creator of the webtoon, Engrave), Rutendo Rwizi, Justin Mutasa and Panashe Chimasa.
“A Nu Afrika by Kudakwashe Matsanga, Africuz.png, Tarisai Bakasa, Gerald Bakasa and Shaun Khoza, while Elisha Nash and Zombie collaborated on Haven.”
He explained that manga books and cinematography require division of labour as they connect people through captivating creative drawing, pictures, language and sound.
“The name KalaBash, as in the calabash gourd, represents a diverse mix of homegrown manga talent all in one place. Updated competencies in animation and storytelling capabilities are the key ingredients for championing the Zimbabwean manga to match other comprehensively renowned animation creatives,” he said.
“The Zimbabwean environment has a lot of potential and with a lot of funding, it has the potential to skyrocket. There are a lot of Zimbabwean stories that are waiting to be told and the sky would be the only limit if resources are effectively mobilised and adequately channelled towards interested parties.”
Bakasa said Rebel Woman is a story set in an alternative Zimbabwean future about a young girl who forms a rebel group to fight the oppressive system in her homeland.
“Mutupo story follows the origin of the first ever Mutupo/Isibongo golf tournament for users of this rare and illegal power to compete against each other, while A Nu Afrika narrates what is hidden in the shadows of revolutionaries,” he said.
“Haven is a story of survival and self-discovery as a man goes in search of a rumoured safe haven, while trying to stay safe in a nuclear post-apocalyptic wasteland.”