L’Afrique irréelle dans la bande dessinée franco-belge de 1940 à nos jours

Abstract

An unreal Africa in a franco-begian comics strip from 1940 to the present day - The comic strip seems to reflect the ideology and form of thinking of a period. Hence during the colonial period, many comic strips appeared using Africa as a backdrop. The myth of African adventure came about through the 9th art, highlighted by a strong three phase evolution from 1940 to the 90' s. Whether it be the Occupation period, the 50' s or the post colonial period, it features a white hero who sets out on a quest for his own origins, and depending upon the period comes across wild animals, dangerous tribes, ivory deposits, great white hunters. In a more contemporary period the intrigue moves away from the exotic to become psychological and political. Very few adventure comic strips are based on authentic facts featuring African heros.