Burundians able now to make cartoons

Media Kay5 is a company gathering Burundian youth who create, advertise and design through cartoons. This is a great step for Burundi.-By Yves Didier Irakoze

Staff of Media Kay5 Ltd.©Iwacu

“In other countries, cartoons occupy a great place in advertising, entertaining and providing messages. So why not in Burundi?” wonders André Kay Hakizimana, Chairman of Media Kay5 Ltd. Hakizimana goes on saying that he studied the field of cartoons at London College at Makerere in Uganda. He has been inspired by the advertisement of Airtel money like “Eco cash” in Burundi. He also adds that he wants to show that his country is able to do it, too. “I perfected in cartoons 4D, while people are familiar with cartoons 3D. The difference between these two is that cartoons 4D design is a cartoon which is somehow live with the real image moving while cartoons 3D is old fashioned,” points out Hakizimana. According to him, other countries of EAC like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have already made a great step. A lot of messages are provided through advertisements. They use cartoon 4D which now hits the world. “Today cartoons are popular in the world. Some time ago, Burundian people used to say that cartoons are for kids but now, even old people enjoy cartoons like “Tom and Jerry”. So imagine if those cartoons were used to provide a message or advertise, teach people in Burundi like other countries of the world, our society would be wonderful!” declares Hakizimana.

Open our mind and move together

Burundi is lagging behind in this domain comparing to other EAC members. “Other EAC member states advertise in cartoons and they get more audience and seekers. Even children get interested in watching them and get the message, too. So, why can’t Burundians have that sense of creativity and move at the same level as other people,” says Hakizimana. He urges our great companies to look at the level other companies have reached to attract customers using cartoons in advertisement, sensitizing people etc. He also calls upon the government to boost this kind of art and support artists in this field, not to disdain them but encourage them. “I invite youths to be innovative, creative, earn their own living and excel at one artistic field instead of mixing everything,” he concludes.
André Kay Hakizimana says that he has already 8 products that he would like to launch or publish on televisions in May 2014. He also wishes to create a school of cartoon 4D and teach students who need to perfect in this art.