Madam & Eve
Encyclopedia
Madam & Eve is a daily comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
originating in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The strip, by Stephen Francis and Rico Schacherl, is syndicated in 13 publications and claims a daily readership of over 4 million people. The strip was first published in July 1992, in a black and white weekly format in The Weekly Mail (now the Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
The Mail & Guardian is a South African weekly newspaper, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a strong focus on politics, government, the environment, civil society and business.- The Mail & Guardian newspaper :...
) and in a monthly colour format in Living magazine. In 1993 the creators added five daily cartoons, also in black and white. In 2000 Madam & Eve was made into a television sitcom.
Concept
A satirical strip, it started in 1992 and was based around the theme of a middle-class white woman, Gwen Anderson, and her black maid, Eve Sisulu, coming to terms with the new South Africa as the Apartheid era drew to a close. Theirs is a relationship of affectionate squabbling. Madam's mother from England has also become a fully-fledged member of the strip.Over the years the strip has raised other social and political issues in a humorous way. Even the concept of comic strips themselves has been satirised on occasion, like when they get caught in a crumbling newspaper and end up in an ink flood with Zonker of Doonesbury
Doonesbury
Doonesbury is a comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau, that chronicles the adventures and lives of an array of characters of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, from the President of the United States to the title character, Michael Doonesbury, who has progressed from a college...
.
Perhaps in the spirit of equality, neither character is portrayed as particularly sympathetic. Madam is always coming up with silly ideas in order to fit in more with the new way of life. She even went so far as to set up the Madam & Eve Party in order to contest South Africa's first full democratic election in April 1994. The press conference was attended by just one journalist, her son Eric, representing his college newspaper. He was warned off critical questions when Mom raised the issue of his university allowance.
Eve meanwhile keeps coming up with ways of obtaining extra cash out of Madam and others. She once set up a booth claiming to be giving lessons in political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
. Not hiding her scepticism, Madam paid her 10 Rand
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
for the lesson. "That was your lesson," said Eve. "Sharing your Wealth." While voting in the 1994 election, Madam broke her pencil and Eve would only give her hers for 50 Rand: "I love this new South Africa" thought Eve.
Political Humor
The strip often pokes fun at political figures, both South African and elsewhere in the world (much in the same way, though not as consistently, as the US strip DoonesburyDoonesbury
Doonesbury is a comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau, that chronicles the adventures and lives of an array of characters of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, from the President of the United States to the title character, Michael Doonesbury, who has progressed from a college...
). Past targets have included former South African president Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
, former South African Deputy President and now President of South Africa Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
, businessman Schabir Shaik
Schabir Shaik
Schabir Shaik is a South African businessman from the Berea, Durban, who rose to prominence due to his close association with South African President Jacob Zuma during his time as Deputy President...
and Winnie Mandela. Further afield, jabs have been directed at US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, Pop star
Pop Star
"Pop Star" is a 2005 single from Japanese singer Ken Hirai. The single went on to top the 2005 Oricon Charts and is known for its remarkable music video, featuring Ken in seven different personas, including a raccoon and his own manager. The Video also helped Ken break into the US and Canadian...
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and UK Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
Even Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
has been a source of fun. Although highly regarded both in and out of South Africa, Madam and Eve has tended to present him as no better than any other politician. For example, when he and Frederik Willem de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk
Frederik Willem de Klerk , often known as F. W. de Klerk, is the former seventh and last State President of apartheid-era South Africa, serving from September 1989 to May 1994...
jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
in 1993, a series of strips had their lawyers discussing its sharing with Mandela insisting on a 60-40% split on the grounds that he had featured on more magazine covers and Hollywood movies.
Creators
The idea for Madam & Eve originated with Stephen Francis, an American expatriate. The three founding creators of the Madam & Eve strip, Harry Dugmore, Rico Schacherl, and Stephen Francis, first worked together on Laughing Stock, a satirical magazine launched in Johannesburg in 1988. Following the closure of the magazine (after 13 issues), the three worked on other projects in the greeting card division of the same company. That company folded, and the trio launched Madam & Eve in July 1992. Dugmore left the partnership in 2001.Rico Schacherl
Known professionally by his first name, Rico is a cartoonist and illustrator living and working in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Austria in 1966, he claims he was drawing cartoons ever since he was old enough to hold a pencil. After less-than-successful studies in graphic design and architecture during the late 80s, Rico decided to get a real job as a cartoonist. Besides his work on Madam & Eve, Rico also produces illustrations in a wide variety of styles ranging from serious editorial or humorous magazine illustrations to children's comics.Rico specialises in the fields of corporate communications, graphic storytelling and character design for cartoons, animation and education. He has worked on highly successful projects for clients such as Telkom, Old Mutual, Avmin, Pick 'n Pay, SABC Education and the Human Rights Commission. This work includes The Bottom Line, a cartoon strip about the South African workplace, which is widely syndicated in company newsletters. He has also worked for the Mail & Guardian, Tribute, The Teacher, Style Magazine and Penguin Books.
Stephen Francis
Stephen Francis, born in the US in 1949, moved to South Africa in 1988 with his then wife, Wendy, whom he met at the South African consulate in New York City. His parents live in New Jersey. The fifth anniversary Madam & Eve book credits many of the strip's original ideas, including the title, to Francis.Harry Dugmore
Harry Dugmore, born 1961, was the native South African of the founding group. Harry was described in 2000 as handling all of the business for the partnership. He left Rapid Phase in 2001.Main characters
Madam
Gwen Anderson, also known as Madam, is a typical white South African woman. The original "Madam" is loosely based on Stephen Francis' own mother-in-law, coincidentally named Gwen. Of her family we have met one son, Eric, and her mother and aunt.Eve
Eve Sisulu is Madam's "domestic maintenance assistant." Eve frequently opens a booth selling different goods and services for a side income, and is sometimes found asleep on her ironing board, both deliberate homages to Charles Schulz' Peanuts (Lucy and Snoopy, respectively).Mother Anderson
The character of Mother Anderson was originally introduced as Abigail ("Mother") Anderson in 1993. The character visited Madam & Eve on a trip from England, and soon disappeared again from the comic strip. Her first appearance was so popular that the character returned in 1994 and has stayed in the comic since, as a permanent character. A twin sister, Edith, was introduced in 1995, but a year after that character's appearance "Mother Anderson" became known as "Edith Anderson," the name which has stuck since. She is well known for her addiction to gin and tonic.Thandi
Thandi was introduced in 1994 as Lizeka's baby sister. She has often been "paired" with 80-year-old Mother Anderson. Since Eric and Lizeka no longer appear regularly, Thandi is described, as of 2005, as "Eve's precocious cousin who lives next door."Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson, Gwen's son, was introduced in early 1993 as a college student. The character was allowed to graduate from college a few years later, but remained unemployed. When the character reappears it has been said he had been on a trip to India or Tibet.The illustrator's (real name: Enrico Schacherl) real-life brother's name also happens to be Erich.
Lizeka
Lizeka was introduced as Eric's college girlfriend in late 1993. Being Zulu, she allowed the writers to explore humour in having an "interracial couple."As of 2005, this character has all but disappeared from the strip.
The Mielie Lady
Another inspiration of Stephen Francis: Francis would be frequently awoken from naps by a woman street vendor, calling out that she had Mielies (known as ears of corn in the USA & Canada, and maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
elsewhere). The writers originally spelled the word "mealies," but settled on "mielies" by 1996. The woman who peddles them past Madam & Eve's house is often paired with Mother Anderson, who often gives chase, wielding a "katty" (from "catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
" - known elsewhere as a slingshot
Slingshot
A slingshot, shanghai, flip, bean shooter or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame held in the off hand, with two rubber strips attached to the uprights. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket which holds the projectile...
) for having had her nap interrupted.
Dr.Kumalo
Madam's recurring psychiatristPsychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who appeared as a replacement for the old doctor. When he first appeared she thought he was a witchdoctor.
Parktown Prawns
The Parktown prawnParktown prawn
The Parktown prawn aka Parkmore prawn aka Parkhurst prawn, Libanasidus vittatus, is a monotypic species of king cricket found in Southern Africa. Although a member of the cricket order Orthoptera, it is placed in the family Anostostomatidae, separate from that of the true crickets, Gryllidae...
is a large King cricket that manages to create regular havoc in Madam's household whenever it appears, due to its repugnant shape and difficulty to kill using normal insecticides.
The prawns in the cartoon behave like university students who are on holiday - insecticide gives them a drug-trip, and they call it 'zol' - the South African slang for cannabis.
The Prawns have been known to leave a prawn-shaped silhouette in frying pans applied to them to kill them, and to get amusement from scaring the ladies in the Anderson house.
Three Guys on the Back of a Bakkie
Three enigmatic laborers sitting on the back of a bakkie (pickup truckPickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
) often appear in strips which have Madam stuck in traffic. Typically, they do nothing but stare at her with otherwise blank expressions, which drives Madam nuts: "It never fails! For years, wherever I go in traffic, I always end up behind these same three guys on the back of a bakkie!" — from the strip of 2 November 2006.
The Dustbin Men
Appearing yearly before Christmas, the area's dustbin men are trying to collect their "Christmas bonus" from Madam and Mother Anderson. While they become more and more creative in their efforts by the year, the latter become more and creative in avoiding paying the bonus.Other characters
- The "little aliensExtraterrestrial life in popular cultureIn popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
" come to earth and have to decide whether South Africans have developed as a species, if not they will destroy them. - The tokoloshes are small creatures from African folklore, they try to take the characters away at night if they don't have bricks under their beds.
Annual collections
- The Madam & Eve Collection - First printed September 1993, reprinted 1999 - ISBN 0-620-17869-8
- Free at Last - First printed 1994 - ISBN 0-14-024833-1
- All Aboard for the Gravy Train - First printed 1995 - ISBN 0-14-025652-0
- Somewhere over the Rainbow Nation - First printed 1996, reprinted 1998 - ISBN 0-14-026420-5
- Madams Are from Mars, Maids Are from Venus - First printed 1997, reprinted 1998 - ISBN 0-14-026656-9
- Madam & Eve's Greatest Hits: Five Year Anniversary Special Edition - First printed 1998 - ISBN 0-14-028241-6
- It's a Jungle Out There - First printed 1998 - ISBN 0-86486-411-6
- International Maid of Mystery - First printed 1999 - ISBN 0-86486-443-4
- The Madams are Restless - First printed 2000 - ISBN 0-620-26306-7
- Crouching Madam, Hidden Maid - First printed 2001 - ISBN 0-620-27931-1
- Madam & Eve: 10 Wonderful Years - First printed 2002 - ISBN 0-620-29248-2
- The Maidtrix - First printed 2003 - ISBN 0-620-30709-9
- Gin & Tonic for the Soul - First printed 2004 - ISBN 0-620-30709-9
- Desperate Housemaids - First printed 2005 - ISBN 0-620-34459-8
- Madams of the Caribbean - First printed 2006 - ISBN 0-620-37052-1
- Bring me my (new) Washing Machine - First printed 2007 - ISBN 0-620-39600-4
- Unplugged - First printed 2008 - ISBN 978-0-62041-662-7
- Strike While the Iron is Hot - First printed 2009 - ISBN 978-1-77009-779-7
- Twilight of the Vuvuzelas - First printed 2010 - ISBN 978-1-77009-878-7
Special collections
- Has Anyone seen my Vibrating Cellphone? - First printed 2000 - ISBN 0-620-25271-5
- Madam & Eve's SA Survival Handbook - First printed 2001 - ISBN 0-620-27930-3
The first of these was a special edition produced with Vodacom
Vodacom
Vodacom is a pan-African mobile telecommunications company, and was the 1st cellular network in South Africa. It provides GSM service to more than 35 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2008...
. The second featured the Madam & Eve characters with text by Gus Silber.
TV show
A thirty minute live action TV show was produced and shown on South African TV. The TV show appeared on eTV in 2000. In 2002 the show was nominated for the Rose d' Or Competition. The cast consists of- Val Donald Bell - Gwen "Madam" Anderson
- Tina Jaxa - Eve Sisulu
- Pat Sanders - Gwen's mother. Pat Sanders died in July 2005. The Madam & Eve comic strip dated 27 July 2005 was dedicated to her.
- Joe MafelaJoe MafelaJoe Mafela "Mbungula, Sdumo" is a noted South African actor, writer, producer, director and businessman.-Career:...
- Sol - Jenny Steyn - Marge, Gwen's neighbour
The show was directed by Mark Graham and produced by Penguin Films.
International coverage
Some art from Madam and Eve has been placed into galleries, such as the exhibit at the Caisa Gallery, Helsinki, Finland, which lasted until 30 June 2005. The comic has also been covered and reviewed internationally, including a New York Times article by Bill Keller, published on 5 April 1993, a Washington Post article by Paul Taylor, France's newspaper Liberation, in 1994, and the international magazine The Economist, in 1997. Their cartoon collection books have been published in Denmark, France and Sweden, and some cartoons are occasionally reprinted in a comics magazine in Norway.Because the comic is available online, and the books are available internationally, the cartoonists have, on occasion, explained some topics to their international readers through their characters. Many of these have been translations, such as mielies being corn or maize, or a "robot" being a traffic light/signal.