The The Language of Caricatures in Tanzania’s Political Landscape: The Case of Selected, Masoud Kipanya’s Cartoons.

Abstract

This paper argues that representations of burning issues in artistically created cartoons provide an alternative option to understanding socio-economic and political themes prevalent in many communities. Based on Masoud Kipanya’s cartoons, the paper demonstrates that the choice of texts and portrayal of politicians complement one another in the delivery of the intended message to the public in Tanzania. This claim is obtained from the analysis of selected stylistic devices in the cartoons. In fact, the register used revolves around terms coined by politicians in the country. The diction in Masoud Kipanya’s cartoons utilises terms such as mchwa and njaa ‘corrupt people’ and malofa ‘cowards, idiots’ which are coined in political arena. Metaphorical expressions used to advance points related to civic rights, corruption, favouritism and developmental plans emerge as main topics of representation in political cartoons in the country. Such subject matters are indirectly pinpointed through metaphorical devices associated with termites, food, eating and majority support as corruption practices and favouritism are equated to food and eating whereas development is downplayed by termites.