It was a tempting brief: in 2005, Frenchman Nicolas Wild was hired to go to Afghanistan to write comic books on the Afghan constitution for children. He turned his experiences into a series of graphic novels. The first, Kabul Disco, was introduced to India in December at “Litteratures”, a French cultural festival.
Kabul Disco covers Wild’s initiation to Kabul. In deep winter, a luxurious expat culture thrives amidst poverty. Nights are filled with music, dance and alcohol, apart from threats of attacks. The book’s subtitle, How I Did Not Get Kidnapped by the Taliban, hints at the humour within.
Wild manages to strikes a fair (and rare) balance between narrative and artwork. The imagery is expressive and no-fuss, and the writing precise.
He is fascinated by minor customs and the warmth of the people. “Accept chai from an Afghan only if he extends the invitation to you four times, and then you are allowed to say, ‘Yes, I would love to, I’m actually quite thirsty.’” One character in the book teases the author: “Why are you taking notes? Are you writing a novel?... Most foreigners who live here write about their lives. As if the air in Kabul gives them writing skills.”
Wild’s reportage makes this an unusual memoir that reads like a backpacking adventure.
Next in the series is Kabul Disco 2: How I Didn’t become an Opium Addict in Afghanistan. It is yet to release in India.
RAISING MY VOICE
HOW I DID NOT GET KIDNAPPED BY THE TALIBAN
Author: Nicolas Wild
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 145
Price: Rs 325