From On Air - Winter 2003

A New Life for a Popular Program

PCI’s radio program Ushikwapo Shikamana (If Assisted, Assist Yourself) went on the air in 1998. The following year, Ushikwapo Shikamana made its debut as a regular comic strip in Kenya’s leading Kiswahili newspaper, Taifa Leo.

The comic is written by Dr. Kimani Njogu, PCI’s regional representative for Africa, and produced in collaboration with Twaweza Communications and Samuel Kuria Wanyenji, a leading Kenyan cartoonist who goes by the pen name of Kourier. The comic runs three times a week, and reinforces key messages of the radio program.

Now PCI has collected the strips into a full-color comic book. Unlike the ephemeral nature of radio, a comic book can be reread and shared. In December we printed and distributed 5,000 Ushikwapo comic books to educational institutions; adult literacy programs; youth, women’s, and church groups; and other outlets in Kenya. Themes covered in the comic book include HIV/AIDS prevention and compassion for those infected, female genital cutting, forced marriage, and gender relations.

According to Dr. Njogu, “This is the first in what we expect to be a multi-volume series. Developing the comic book has been so exciting for Kourier and me. It’s an important venture as we develop this spin-off based on our popular radio soap opera. It will help PCI diversify its audience and maximize the outlets for programs released through the electronic media.”

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