Fifi Mukuna

**Fifi Mukuna** (born 1968) be a Congolese cartoonist den caricaturist.

## Biography
Na dem born Fifi Mukuna insyd Kinshasa insyd Zaire, now de Democratic Republic of the Congo, insyd 1968. Na ein poppie be a diplomat. She attend elementary school insyd Belgium, wer na dem assign ein poppie, wey she cam turn a fan of *Bob et Bobette*, a comic series wey Willy Vandersteen create. She cam turn interest insyd drawing, den for ein return to Zaire she study for de Académie des Beaux-Arts insyd Kinshasa insyd 1989.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

After she graduate, Mukuna begin dey contribute political caricatures to various newspapers den magazines wey dey include *Le Palmarès*, *Le Phare*, den *Le Grognon*, wey she dey work closely plus popular Congolese artists den graphic designers. Of ein work as a caricaturist give *Le Phare*, na she say, "It was dangerous, but I enjoyed it a lot." Sam of dis work na dem publish under a pseudonym, wey chaw readers assume na she be a man, wich na e protect am wen authorities on one occasion cam to de newspaper office to pressure de artists make dem no draw.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

She sanso publish comic strips insyd de journal of de Franco-Congolese Alliance, a Congolese nonprofit association wey dey operate in partnership plus de Alliance Française insyd Paris. Mukuna receive further training thru workshops organize by de Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles. Insyd 2001, she contribute to a collection of work by African authors, *À l'ombre du baobab*, for wich she focus for de lives of street kiddies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Na she concern about increasing backlash to ein caricatures after de government discover ein identity, Mukuna lef ein country insyd 2002 wey she settle insyd France. She receive political refugee status, wey na ein kiddies fi be able make dem cam live plus am insyd France, buh na ein husby wey stay behind insyd Kinshasa die before na he fi able join am.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Insyd France, Mukuna resume ein work as a comic book author. She contribute to de third issue of *Afrobulles*, de publication of de collective of de same name lead by anoda Congolese cartoonist, Alix Fuili, as well as three oda collections: *Une journée dans la vie d'un africain d'Afrique*, *Là-bas ... Na poto*, den *New Arrivals*. She sanso contribute to de Italian magazine *Linus*, in collaboration plus de writer Christophe Ngalle Edimo, wey she participate insyd de exhibition *Matite africane*. She sanso collaborate plus Edimo for an adaptation of a story by Carl Norac for de theme of water den ecology. Insyd 2005 she publish de comic *Si tu me suis autour du monde.* She publish ein first solo graphic novel, *Kisi le Collier*, insyd 2013.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Beyond she produce ein own work, Mukuna dey teaches, wey dey include for de Higher Regional School of Visual Art insyd Tourcoing. She sanso be a cultural ambassador give de Alliance Française den de Red Cross.

## References