Profile
Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro, is a cartoonist based in South Africa. Zapiro has carved a niche for himself as South Africa’s most recognized and awarded editorial cartoonist. His career took off after being conscripted into the army, where he refused to bear arms and instead became active in the anti-apartheid movement. This activism led to his arrest and subsequent scholarship to study media arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he was mentored by comics legends like Art Spiegelman, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman.Zapiro’s work, known for its sharp wit and poignant criticism of political and social issues, has been published in South African and international publications. He has been the editorial cartoonist for the Daily Maverick, the Sunday Times, and the Mail & Guardian, among others. His cartoons have sparked considerable debate, leading to legal challenges, including high-profile lawsuits from figures such as former President Jacob Zuma. He has been acknowledged as one of the 50 most influential personalities in Africa by Jeune Afrique magazine.
