adminProblem Masau Arts Correspondent
SCRIPTWRITER and cartoonist Enock Chihombori is set to publish a collection of “Gringo Cartoons” and an animal story book for children.
Chihombori said the animal story book was previously serialised in The Sunday Mail in 2007.
“I had an animal story for children which I felt I should do in cartoon format. Now I have taken the same story and I am scanning it and using the computer to redo the text, speech bubbles and border lines.
“Just want it to look more presentable. I have an opportunity to have it published, but unfortunately I am told even books are being pirated in the streets of Harare,” he said.
The talented Chihombori has been uploading pages of the book on Facebook.
He said the he faced difficulties in drawing the pages with the crocodile.
“Generally, all the pages with crocodile were difficult to draw because of the many scales covering his body and all the teeth in his mouth that I had to draw all the time because he spent most of the time with his mouth open,” he said.
The cartoonist said the “Gringo Cartoons”, a collection of his cartoons that were once published in Kwayedza will also be published.
The road has been arduous for the talented cartoonist, with lack of resources and financial constraints crippling some of his projects.
“The biggest challenges are financial resources and equipment. If we had these, we would be producing more independent films and dramas on a regular basis,” bemoaned Chihombori.
In a career that spans several decades, Chihombori recalls what is arguably the darkest hour in his career.
“It was in 1998 when the first publisher I approached took my cartoons and we produced a cartoon book titled ‘Gringo Auya’ but the book was not a financial success as I had thought it would be.
“Not many copies were printed. The publisher just vanished into thin air,” he narrated.
Born in Zambia in 1971, Chihombori has three national awards under his belt. He never pursued art as a subject, joined a school group called Shona Culture Club which got him involved in various cultural activities which included what were to become his passion — drama and acting.
Online Reporter