Zapiro Brings Back The Shower Head

As many expected, a recent international news story of South African President Jacob Zuma linked to a 20th child has resulted in longtime critic Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro breaking out his most devastating visual cudgel: a showerhead attached to his head and to certain figures related to the political powerhouse. The showerhead was initially put atop Zuma's head to remind readers of his statements regarding taking a shower after sex to remove himself from the possibility of catching AIDS -- a statement widely castigated in light of South Africa's general struggle against the ravages of the disease. It has since become shorthand for Zapiro's general attitude towards the elected official at any one time.

The showerhead was put on top of babies in the above cartoon -- a direct reference to the 20 children issue, of course -- and reportedly is back on Zapiro's head in the most recent, showing the president giving his state of the nation address. One assumes that cartoon will eventually show up here.

The Zapiro/Zuma relationship is likely the world's most pointed and brutal cartoonist vs. politician stand-off right now. It is certainly its highest-profile such relationship. The cartoonist has been criticized for the nature of his coverage of the South African President, while at the same time the severity of the portrayal has brought the already-popular cartoonist an extended wave of international media interest.
 
posted 8:00 am PST | Permalink
 

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