The Kofi Annan effect: Cartoonists worldwide celebrate a keen 'patron'

Kofi Annan was a known fan of the arts; he honoured concerts, met with heavyweights in the entertainment industry and was particularly a keen fan of cartoons.

Annan has been hailed by people in the industry for his role – direct and indirect in championing the cause of using the arts to reach across to others.

He was an honorary president for the Cartooning for Peace project which he helped found in 2006. “The loss of Kofi Annan, Honorary president of Cartooning for Peace, arouses a deep sadness and also represents a big loss for freedom of speech.

“After an outstanding diplomatic career, the former United Nations Secretary-General, also Nobel Peace Prize, gathered press cartoonists from all around the world in 2006 at UN: he wanted to build a bridge between press cartoonists and the various cultures on the planet,” Plantu, president of the group wrote in a tribute.

The group which has 183 editorial cartoonists from 64 different countries have since published 11 pieces in honour of their former honorary president. Their main aim is drawing for a better understanding and respect between people of different cultures and beliefs.

Several other cartoonists across Africa have also done works on the Kofi Annan effect. Over in Hollywood Forest Whitaker has paid respects along with the crew at Sesame street.

South African music icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Britain’s Naomi Campbell have all paid glowing tribute to the global diplomat who died aged 80 in Switzerland.

[TRIBUTE]
We are all very saddened by the passing of Kofi Annan, Honorary President of Cartooning for Peace.
It leaves a big void but also a beautiful inspiration to the cartoonists of the world. https://t.co/qnOeJwQpjr

— Cartooning for Peace (@CartooningPeace) August 18, 2018

African cartoonists pay respects

A life well lived#kofiannan #abonsamcartoons #throwback #sketch #illustration #drawing pic.twitter.com/UGjJ6vl0fn

— #abonsamcartoons (@brightackwerh) August 18, 2018

#KofiAnnanRIP TRIBUTE: Former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate KofiAnnan passes on... StandardKenya KTNKenya KTNNews SDEKenya pic.twitter.com/m7lD6YmQNM

— GAMMZ (kiddoGAMMZ) August 18, 2018

Kofi Anan 1938-2018 pic.twitter.com/BDGFWRnHry

— Mustapha Bulama (@Bulamacartoons) August 22, 2018

My colleagues ndula_victor iGaddo and I had the privilege of meeting the former United Nations secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate KofiAnnan in 2010 at his KofiAnnanFdn in Switzerland. What a humble man! Fare thee well grandpa… pic.twitter.com/4lKdurrmhV

— GAMMZ (@kiddoGAMMZ) August 18, 2018

#KoffiAnnan #ArethaFranklin #RIP Two ICONIC figures, gone but not forgotten. Cartoon published in the star newspaper pic.twitter.com/enxtzcAARz

— VICTOR NDULA (@ndula_victor) August 20, 2018

RIP Aretha Franklin, RIP Kofi Annan… Business Day tribute cartoon, Monday 20 August 2018 https://t.co/kZazuaLXUF pic.twitter.com/X5Z5zJBucz

— Brandan E. Reynolds (@brandanrey) August 20, 2018

Key dates in the life of Kofi Attah Annan

1 – 1938: Born in Kumasi, Ghana’s second city, seat of the Ashanti kingdom
2 – 1962: Starts working at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland
3 – 1965: Weds Titi Alakija. They have two children, a boy and a girl
4 – 1984: Marries Nane Lagergren, having divorced a year earlier
5 – 1991: Twin sister Efua dies
6 – 1993: Becomes head of U.N. peacekeeping operations
7 – 1997: Appointed seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations
8 – 2001: Wins Nobel Peace Prize
9 – 2006: Steps down as secretary-general after 10 years
10 – 2012: Becomes UN/Arab League Joint Special Envoy on the Syrian crisis
11- 2013: Made chair of The Elders, a peace and human rights advocacy group
12 – 2016: Leads the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, Myanmar

Other cartoonists and artists celebrate Kofi Annan

May the soul of our brother ,father and son of the soil KoffiAnnan rest in power

— Yvonne Chaka Chaka (YvonneChakaX2) August 18, 2018

KOFI ANNAN DID NOT JUST PUT OUT WORDS HE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH ACTION!!! REST IN PEACE AND POWER #KOFIANNAN ♥️♥️?? pic.twitter.com/q4rUuZPVZT

— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) August 19, 2018

We lost a great man, Kofi Annan was an advocate of the world's most vulnerable populations. His legacy will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/2IkaGnn6ca

— Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) August 19, 2018

Tribute to Kofi Annan – I was honoured to meet with Kofi Annan in 2005 because he liked one of my cartoons in THE NATION newspaper about him . So I gave him the original drawing . cartoonmovement CartooningPeace globalcartoons #KofiAnnan nationnews veen_th pic.twitter.com/oarB8Xo2b1

— stephff cartoonist (stephffart) August 18, 2018

[EDITORIAL]
“Cartoonists from around the world pay tribute to #KofiAnnan ”
Our weekly editorial is online on our website https://t.co/WQoO0jJXc8

Cartoons by plantu (France) and stephffart (Thailand) pic.twitter.com/lzDzqcNVQS

— Cartooning for Peace (@CartooningPeace) August 20, 2018

We mourn the loss of Kofi Annan, a relentless champion for peace and a passionate ambassador for Sesame Street and the world’s children. pic.twitter.com/b0ovPdQ8I9

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) August 18, 2018

Kofi Annan, 1938 – 2018. pic.twitter.com/AgHNKillgX

— The Cartoon Movement (@cartoonmovement) August 20, 2018

pic.twitter.com/Le2z5j5bPA

— Chappatte Cartoons (@PatChappatte) August 19, 2018

Regarding his peace efforts in Syria one of my cartoons on Kofi Annan in March, 2012 in Khaleej Times, Dubai and New York Times Syndicate… RIP Kofi Annan pic.twitter.com/cDPRB5nCL1

— Paresh Nath (@PareshNathtoons) August 19, 2018

.CartooningPeace advocates for cartoonist around the world and promotes cultural understanding, PatChappatte explains the importance of this organization for Annan. pic.twitter.com/kx3G6l9g20

— PRI's The World (@pritheworld) August 20, 2018

#RIPKofiAnnan pic.twitter.com/jUChMD4rNx

— Graeme MacKay (@mackaycartoons) August 18, 2018

Kofi Annan was a wonderful man, I will miss his calm presence on this earth. For 12 years, he was President of ⁦CartooningPeace⁩, of which I am a charter member. He believed in the power of editorial cartoons for good. His spirit lives on. #KofiAnnan ⁦KofiAnnan⁩ pic.twitter.com/60QA5yt1XV

— Liza Donnelly (@lizadonnelly) August 18, 2018