La Pesadilla de Obi (Obi’s Nightmare)

La Pesadilla de Obi is a satirical graphic novel about Teodoro 'Obi' Obiang, Equatorial Guinea’s president. It imagines what would be the worst nightmare of Africa’s longest-ruling leader: to wake up as an unemployed, witless husband in one of Malabo’s dreary slums. Hilarity and tragedy ensues as Obi navigates the education, health, and prison systems he created in Equatorial Guinea.

La Pesadilla de Obi was illustrated by cartoonist and activist Ramón Esono Ebalé and written by two anonymous collaborators (Chino and Tenso Tenso) based in the capital, Malabo. A copy of the book was kindly provided to the ASCL by its publisher, EG Justice.

Ramón Esono Ebalé was arrested on 16 September in Malabo. He has lived outside of Equatorial Guinea for several years and had returned to the country to renew his passport. Ebalé was initially questioned by security agents in relation to his political cartoons. News outlets reported a few days later that he is being investigated for alleged money laundering and counterfeiting money. He was presented before a judge on 20 September where he was asked about these allegations. He was subsequently sent to Black Beach prison in Malabo where he is being held in preventive detention.

Ramón Esono Ebalé is the recipient of the 2017 Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning given by the Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI). The award was presented in absentia during CRNI’s annual convention of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists on November 4, 2017 at Hofstra University. The annual award is given to the cartoonist or cartoonists exhibiting great courage and self-sacrifice in the pursuit of their craft and in the exercise of free speech. Ramon’s wife, Eloisa accepted the prize on his behalf and called on cartoonists worldwide and policy makers to never give up on her husband, 'an artist committed to freedom in his home country, Equatorial Guinea'.

For the Spanish online edition see: La pesadilla de Obi