In a cozy apartment in Maadi, the light filters inside the room where a 46-year-old cartoonist holds a pad and a digital pen, flicking color on the wings of her newest drawing. On the walls hang multiple drawings, including one of a shark threatening to eat a man alive, perhaps a symbol of the rampant poverty Egypt is facing with prices steadily growing. Doaa El Adl has quickly become one, if not the most known of Egypt’s cartoonists. With her uncanny ability to blend humor, wit, and profound social commentary, she has become a force to be reckoned with, captivating audiences around the world. Born in Damietta in 1979, El Adl honed her skills by studying Fine Arts at Alexandria University. It was during her college years that she discovered her love for cartoons and comics, drawn to the medium’s unique ability to provoke thought and critique social norms. From there, she embarked on a journey to challenge conventional narratives by employing sharp satire and creativity in her artwork. “I’ve always had opinions and perspectives; a cartoonist, by nature, has an opinion to share,” she explains with a glint of…
The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword: How Doaa El Adl’s Cartoons Challenge the Status Quo in Egypt
July 13, 2025
