The preparation of the Pan Afrikan 2085 Comix book series entailed concept development, scripting, developing draft character outlines, with story boards for each page, inking the pages and then applying colour. This has been an intense and learning experience with activities which entailed ongoing reviews with the illustration development.
The main Southern region characters where consulted for their contributions with activations. Stakeholder engagement activities which where initiated by Mr Mdu Msomi and Miss Pontsho Phori who attended the GFC Hybrid stakeholder engagement session. The characters recorded their regular chapter readings taking a reference from Steve Biko and Viva Tau. They initiated to record the grade 10 & 11 final year literature books as an audio link for the children to click and listen to the reading.
The reason we’re having this conversation is because Mzansi has made soccer its first priority then Rugby, Cricket & Netball. Had we chosen a different sport, maybe it would’ve been a different topic. What we’re working towards here is to use the norm to our advantage in order to get our point across. We want to create a spark to ignite confidence in the youth to #LearnWithReadingThenDebating. Implementing soccer is only to draw ones attention then instill progressive ideas. Our target & main aim is to approach schools and libraries to work with to create “Learning with Reading and Debating platforms,” then the data that we collect from the schools with our mandate as per brief, will then be included within the development of our next comic book series.
Sports with Education is our main focus. While using sports as an introduction. What we do with the pupils is & should be part of our context & content. That’s how different we are. We have netball, cricket, hockey, basketball & rugby to name a few. So we should in future be using all sport categories, but for now it’s the main one which is trending, namely soccer.
Concept Developed by: St Plaatjies Music with The ViZion Communications Group in Collaboration with Bad Art Studios
Supported by: Department of Sports Arts and Culture Mzansi Golden Economy Grant Fund 2021.
Script Writing – Beki Zondi, Research & Editing – Thamsanqa Nicholas Sinxezi, Art Direction – Nonhlanhla Hlongwane Story Board Drafting & Illustrations Bad Art Mukuna, Illustration, Inking & Colouring Goabaone Magwe from Tecboe Illustration, Inking & Colouring Malume Ibrahim Mokanse Supporting Vocals & Characters:- Pontsho Phori from Wonderland Ceramics, Mdu Msomi from Amzo Logix, Jabu Motileni from ABJ Gym & Welness, Milton Nkosi from MMNI Consulting Music by: Aso Tandwa ft. St. Plaatjies with Dream Chaser.
Executive Producer: Victor Vusumuzi MonnaPula Zikalala.