Impact Stories

The images are compelling – and sometimes disturbing. Some of them make your laugh; others force you to think. They also open your eyes to an enormous treasure of work by cartoonists, comic artists, and illustrators in the Arab world. These images were all part of the 7th Mahmoud Kahil Award exhibition at Dar El Nimer, which took place from March 31 to April 20, 2022, and was made possible by a generous gift by AUB Trustee and alumnus Mu’taz Sawwaf (BArch ’74) and his wife Rada Sawwaf. Awards were presented in five categories: Editorial Cartoons ($10,000) to Raafat Al Khatib; Graphic Novels ($10,000) to Barrack Rima; Comics ($5,000) to Mohamad Salah; Graphic Illustrations ($5,000) to Karen Keyrouz; and Children’s Book Illustration ($5,000) to Baraa Al Awoor.

Since it was established in 2014 as part of the Mu’taz and Rada Sawwaf Arab Comics Initiative at AUB, the Mahmoud Kahil Award program has raised the profile of comics, editorial cartoons, and illustration in the Arab world by recognizing young and emerging artists – and also celebrating the achievements of some of the giants of the past – people like the late Mahmoud Kahil (1936-2003). Kahil, who was an AUB alumnus, is widely recognized as one of the leading cartoonists and caricaturists of the Arab world.

Sawwaf and his wife support many initiatives at AUB – including assisting patients seeking care at the AUB Medical Center, funding scholarships for AUB students, and naming the Wassef and Souad Sawwaf Building at the medical center. The Mu’taz and Rada Sawwaf Arab Comics Initiative is especially close to Sawwaf’s heart though. “My passion has always been comics,” he says. Sawwaf also has a keen appreciation of the influence that comics and cartoons have on society and public opinion. He spoke about this during the ceremony in 2014 to launch the initiative. “The Arab world is no exception,” he said, “yet no one has tried to understand and promote comics art from an educational, academic, and entertainment perspective, nor has anyone honored the Arab pillars of this very creative art form.”

Thanks in large part to the Mahmoud Kahil Award, there is now much more interest in Arab comics. “The impact has been extraordinary,” comments Lina Ghaibeh, associate professor of graphic design, animation, motion graphics, and comics at AUB. Ghaibeh, who is the founding director of the Sawwaf Arab Comics Initiative, goes on to explain. “The impact can be seen in terms of recognition and networking opportunities for the artists themselves. There is also growing global interest in this under-appreciated area.” Many of the works that were displayed at Dar El Nimer will be part of upcoming exhibits at the Lyon BD international comics festival, and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in the UK. “It is enormously gratifying to be able to promote these wonderful artists to new audiences outside the Arab world,” says Ghaibeh. “We are deeply grateful to Trustee Mu’taz and Rada for making this all possible.”