In the winter of 1907, a former Egyptian army officer of the Orabi Revolt tried to combat colonialism once more – this time through satirical illustrations. When Abdul Hamid Zaki founded his illustrative magazine, he aimed to provide a platform for nationalist commentary and colonial struggle that could reach children and adults, illiterate or literate. To the Egyptians, it was known as Al-Siyasa Al-Musawara (Politics Illustrated). To the colonialists, it was satirically called Cairo Punch, referring to England’s very own satirical magazine, Punch. “In journalism, I noticed an empty space and so I occupied it, and in politics, I saw a lack so I made it up…a newspaper silent of tongue but expressive of inner feelings, symbols, and gestures that make it unnecessary to communicate with proclamations,” explained Zaki in the first edition of his magazine. Cairo Punch was by no means the most informative nationalist press present at that time. But through Zaki’s political caricatures and political commentary, he helped raise global awareness of Egypt’s fight for independence against colonial powers – reaching audiences as far as New York and Tokyo. Zaki would go on to circulate monthly illustrations…
Cairo Punch: How One Egyptian Combated Colonialism Through Satirical Cartoons
June 7, 2022
