Memoirs of a Cartoonist (plus What is Happiness?)

On Thursday 7th May 2009, I will be marking exactly two years since my editorial cartoons (with the copyright 'Aiko' moniker) started being published on page 4, then 6 of 'The Standard', Uganda Christian University's community newspaper. It was an honour to be part of a dream come true even though it came with its ups and downs, glories and humiliations. Many readers either abhorred or loved my cartoons. I do not know much about the half way house but I will start with criticisms before I come to the good parts later.

Some lady once shouted that I was dry - I do not know if she was referring to my humour, pockets or something else but after that shell I tried to make my pieces more colourful and easy on the eye. Then a campus girl doubted, 'Taja kumalako' meaning 'He will not finish' in Luganda. I wish she could eat those words and tell me how they taste...It's all about GOD's grace now, I literally made it through two years - contract term for UCU staff - even if some pieces were below my personal benchmark and only two issues lacked my toons during this period - one drawn by comics artist Christian Mafigiri and a Grad' issue that lacked a cartoon. It's not how hard you push along the way but having something in you to finish. Other criticisms included 'plastic...unoriginal...rigid...wordy...too detailed' and so on.

When the 4th issue of Volume One came out 18th June 2007, Edmund K.(the management accountant) commented that the toons were 'still not yet funny' but when he saw a Chogm toon published later in Issue 15 on 19th November 2007, he was happy. It featured M7 and Queen Elizabeth touring UCU in a limo. My 3rd and 4th sisters wanted to show it to their workmates; maybe it was that good. The toon I dislike most is in Volume One, Issue 6 featuring two boys reading a notice banning 'buveera' - polythene bags - on campus, it was rushingly done and shows waist-up characters. I believe there is always room for improvement so I never let failure, criticism or correction make me walk with depression. People encouraged me (which was very positive). New Vision editorial cartoonist Mr. Ras taught me that combo pens are more professional even if I still find my preferred BIC pens produce darker shades without smudges. What I need to learn is how to use combos which I never liked during school, that's how it is. He also introduced me to ivory paper which stores your work for ages. Danny Barongo commonly known as B.Danny or BD, my favourite Ugandan illustrator told me not to let another artist criticise my style because it is "not bad". Wow, imagine someone you admire telling you that! Kisangala Onghwens suggested my name as an Illustrator for the Human Rights series to his employers at The Independent Weekly Newspaper (Published in Magazine form like The Economist of UK) but it ended before my style was approved but I took it as a lesson. I also got the chance to meet the revolutionary and fearless journalist Andrew Mwenda and his fellow chief Charles O. Bichacho. I cannot exhaust the names of all my motivators. Most Importantly though, Wanyama Wangah - The Standard's very experienced production manager, the man who can walk on water as the proprietor of Bob FM said, told me he chased away another guy who brought his pieces for evaluation. It is Wanyama who also recommended me to The New Vision and if I ever make it there or elsewhere, I dedicate my career to him. He was my lecturer during my UCU career (2003 - 6) and taught (Advanced) Editing in my final two years. I enjoyed his lectures because he was very laid back and usually brought us England’s best newspapers to study during his lessons. That was when everybody in our Mass Communication class had to study editing but I guess the rest remember him for dummys and editing tricks. Then when a few of us specialised in print journalism (while others did either public relations or radio and tv production) in our final year, I will never forget him for two special things. He introduced me to QuarkExpress, the fantastic newspaper editing software used at New Vision plus international media houses that makes editing fun and secondly we studied in an air conditioned classroom - the Linux room at Technology Park using the latest Acer computers while other scholars were using old makes. Even some of the I.T. Students never got to use this room which was amazingly in their department. How posh, I had never studied in an air conditioned classroom all my life yet nursery schools in Nigeria have air conditioning. Wow, there must have been a gap between us. Special thanks also go to my workmates - the unflinching editors - all of whom I have drawn - from the four pioneers to the two replacements. I used to keep inspirational articles written by Emma Wafula, the Lifestyle Editor (daughter of the Uganda Clays mogul) without knowing that one day I would work with her in the same newspaper. I did not even know her. Wow, she was a year behind us but topped her Class of 2004-7, another lady on top just like Adeline K. in our year.

When our 2nd issue came out - 21 May 2007, a Mass Comm finalist in a red blouse and khaki jeans blubbered on how she wanted us to focus on the current national issues like the Mabira saga. She told John that she couldn't waste money on buying the campus paper despite the crisp printing done at New Vision. In fact the only thing that amused her was my cartoon, 'I wonder what the scholar (in the toon) was downloading.' Another added that it also made her laugh. So John introduced me to them which was kinda sweet, you know; didn't blush though. Another girl told me that GOD had revealed to her that she would marry me, ooops! Maybe she was just stepping on my toe, but the irony is: I admired her too!

By the way, Thomas Froese the Canadian coordinator of The Standard chose me because my pieces were 'more modern' than those of two other applicants evaluated in April 2007. I had shown him a collection I started making around October 2006, two months after graduation. He advised, "A good cartoon must tell the whole story with as few writings as possible. It's even better if it makes a point without a caption. To be a good cartoonist, you must know how to marry skilful illustration with news analysis..." Also, if it hadn't been for Frank Obonyo, the first sports editor who informed me, I might not have known much about this opportunity to live a dream early on.

Brian "Windman" Semujju, the Managing Editor and John Mary Semakula, Campus Life Editor were also motivating old classmates. The former actually told me that "We should thank GOD for this pain because other people may wish to be in our place..." Now that's a lifeline. John was always a natural leader to me, I can follow him anywhere...

What is Happiness?

Define Happiness! Is it a Drug or Food, Popularity, Love, Money, Cars, Movies, Wealth and Long Life? All these Things symbolise it but what is Happiness really? Why do Rich and admired People commit Suicide, weren’t they happy according to worldly Standards? If they also kill themselves, then Happiness must be deeper than what we see on the Surface. Maybe true Happiness is what the Scriptures refer to as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) or the Joy of the Lord and it is only Skin-deep. Walt Disney once said, ''Happiness is a State of Mind...'' That’s Real Talk by far; it’s like Happiness is simply how you think about whatever happens to you. To People watching you, being fired from your Job is Misery but to the Happy (Wo)Man, Retrenchment and Unemployment might simply translate as Freedom to find a better Job or be your own Boss, it’s an Escape from being someone else’s corporate Slave. It’s all about how you look at it. Missing a Free Ride is surviving an Accident, pay for Public Transport! Breakups give you another Chance for True Love in the right Arms. Spilling your Milk even though unwittingly might save you from a contaminated or poisoned Drink; do not cry, get up, go out and get more or drink Water! Failure might just be a Wake up Call that you have to work harder and pray ceaselessly to get exactly what you covet and desire; after all, most of what you need is already provided by GOD’s Grace: Oxygen, Safety, etc. Don’t forget to thank GOD every Moment! Misplacing a particular Item gives you Room to get something bigger or more long-lasting. My Mother named me “Ayikobua” in 1984 after losing her Father the preceding Year. She also had some Troubles, so the Name was fitting. It literally means “Happiness is in Heaven (the Sky) or the Grave, depending on where you look for it. There is basically no Happiness on Earth, however much you pursue it. This name haunts me like a Jinx but I’m glad my Father also told me to drop the Letter ‘Y’ giving the Name a whole new Meaning even though it may not seem that Way. I’m literally searching for the Salt I do not have which is the Reality anyway, I’m fine with that. It gives me Purpose in everything I do. I need not worry about Happiness; GOD is closer to me than the Blood in my Veins, HE’s greater than Happiness!