BY: Kassim Kajosolo
For Wallace Salanje, cartoon drawing is more than just art, it is a powerful way of communicating ideas and telling stories through images.
The Balaka-born artist has been nurturing his talent since childhood and continues to use his creativity to express messages that words alone sometimes cannot convey.
Salanje studied at Balaka Secondary School where he obtained a distinction in Art. He later pursued a Certificate in Food and Beverage Services and a Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Malawi Institute of Tourism.
He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management from the University of Malawi.
Born in Dula Village under GVH Makuta in Balaka District, Salanje comes from a family of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Salanje of Tumbwe Village in Makanjira.
He is the last born in a family of three children. Despite his academic background in tourism and hospitality, Salanje’s passion for art has remained a central part of his life.
“I started drawing when I was very young. Even while I was at Balaka Secondary School, I used to draw cartoons every weekend,” he said.
His talent quickly became known within his community. People would invite him to draw images on their shops and houses using mud colouring, and he also developed the ability to create realistic portraits that closely resembled the people he drew.
Salanje said a major turning point in his artistic journey came when he spent about three years with an American family who supported and encouraged his artistic development.
“They taught me more about art and helped me improve my skills. Later I became an art teacher at the American House of Many Stories Youth Club in Balaka, today i have Mjomba cartoon” he explained.
A cartoonist, according to Salanje, is an artist who communicates ideas through comic illustrations.
“A cartoonist is a person behind cartoon characters and drawings that express ideas and messages through pictures,” he said.
Apart from art, Salanje is also involved in music and enjoys playing football, while balancing family responsibilities and professional work.
“I manage my time by planning carefully so that I can balance prayers, work, music, football and family time,” he said, adding that although he enjoys music, drawing cartoons remains his greatest passion.
While cartoon art is mainly driven by passion for him, it also provides occasional income when individuals or organisations request artwork.
“Sometimes I earn money when people ask me to create artwork for them. I normally charge depending on the complexity of the work, but on average it can be around K25,000,” he said.
However, Salanje says artists in Malawi still face several challenges, including limited platforms to showcase their work and lack of modern technological resources such as computers to enhance digital art.
Despite these challenges, he encourages young people with artistic talent to pursue it.
“Cartoon art is one of the best ways of conveying messages. A picture can tell a thousand words,” he said.