"Magie Noire" is a comics

Comics

Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...

 series by the Ivorian

Côte d'Ivoire

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...

 painter and author Gilbert G. Groud

Gilbert G. Groud

Gilbert G. Groud is a painter, illustrator and author from Toulépleu, Côte d'Ivoire.- Biography :He was born around 1956 in a little village close to Toulépleu in Côte d'Ivoire. He had 23 siblings, not all of whom were born to the same mother since his father was polygamous. 7 siblings were of the...

. It deals with the dangers of black magic in Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.

The story is about a father who is married to several women. His favourite wife Zoé has only one child. In order to proceed in sorcery and earn a position of higher power he is required to sacrifice this last son. The child is sacrificed in the world of ghosts. In the real world he falls very sick and throws up daily. The mother, who is not into Black Magic, takes the child to a hospital. The doctors can not find out what is wrong. Still the situation of the child worsens.

The illustrations were drawn by hand with ink. The mood is sad and dark which can also be seen in the pictures that are painted in green and brown. Pictures showing the real world are suddenly painted in bright colors. This contrast shows the difference between the real world and the frightening, dangerous world of ghosts.

Groud converted to Christianity

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

 in 1985 but comes from a family that practised sorcery. His point of view is a very critical one.

Editions

• Gilbert G. Groud
  Gilbert G. Groud
  Gilbert G. Groud is a painter, illustrator and author from Toulépleu, Côte d'Ivoire.- Biography :He was born around 1956 in a little village close to Toulépleu in Côte d'Ivoire. He had 23 siblings, not all of whom were born to the same mother since his father was polygamous. 7 siblings were of the...
  
  : Magie Noire. Albin Michel, Paris 2003, ISBN 2-226-13642-8
• Gilbert G. Groud
  Gilbert G. Groud
  Gilbert G. Groud is a painter, illustrator and author from Toulépleu, Côte d'Ivoire.- Biography :He was born around 1956 in a little village close to Toulépleu in Côte d'Ivoire. He had 23 siblings, not all of whom were born to the same mother since his father was polygamous. 7 siblings were of the...
  
  : Magie noire, Tome 2 Vent des savanes, 2008, ISBN 978-2356260116

Sources

English articles:

• http://lambiek.net/artists/g/groud_gilbert.htm

French articles:

• http://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/em/cosmopolitaine/index.php?id=14236
• http://www.africultures.com/index.asp?menu=affiche_murmure&no_murmure=903