Building African Comic Art/Bandes Dessinées Collections in Libraries

Abstract

Librarians have tended, for various reasons, to neglect comic art and yet it is one of the fastest growing (sub-) genres in Africa today. With the rapid adoption of online media by African artists to present their drawings it is now easier to track down these artists, often hunted remorselessly by politicians keen to censor their ironic barbs. One reason for neglect by libraries has been the difficulty of acquiring comic art from Africa or even from the North about Africa given that ‘comics’ are often outside the normal trade spheres, and with that in mind this article seeks to offer practical suggestions for those wishing to build their collections in this area. I first sketch the background to comic art and libraries, then discuss the ‘art of collecting', particularly from Africa, and finally raise questions of digital art.