SENEGAL: Graphic Design & Politics

Yilmaz Aysan for Malick Noel Seck, Political Prisoner

Senegalese group fighting back bad governance, injustice and corruption

Singer Princesse Erika for Malick Noel Seck’s liberation

Y’EN A MARRE, Senegalese movement

Senegal has been lately a scene for social and political demonstrations. He last couple of years, people suffered from power shortcuts that resulted to social tensions across the country. June 23rd 2011 was marked by the withdrawal of a bill of law when Abdoulaye Wade backed down to change elections rules. The last couple of months have been dominated by speculations and debates over the validity of President Abdoulaye Wade’s third term bid. The leader of Convergence Socialistes Malick Noel Seck was  one of the first to actually bring forward the debate over Wade’s unconstitutional candidacy with a letter addressed to the President of the Constitutional Council. He was then condemned to two months in jail over contempt of court and death threats. His letter has successfully created debates over Wade’s candidacy. But this month, Wade was chosen as the candidate of the Democratic Senegalese Party (PDS). For its campaign, the party has invested in posters, slogans, T-shirts etc. As we are two months ahead of the elections, several candidates have used various means to demonstrate their opinions. Hence graphic design has developed in Senegal a political role to denounce issues, actions, to convince and galvanize masses. This arrives at a time where threats, intimidations are rampant against the opposition and they still dominate the headlines. Few days ago a group of supporters supposedly related to the President’s party have attacked a local council and as a result one dead and three injured. This circumstance will open up a new playground for graphic designers to create a range of products that denounce the political crisis in Senegal. People seem to understand the powerful role of design and its impact in the political fields and how design can be used to promote information, unconditional free speech and build movement for the masses.

... Brought by f a t i


Courtesy
Convergence Socialiste
Idrissa Seck
Google Images