Chaos in Kinshasa

Baruti Kandolo Lilela, better known by his pen name Barly Baruti, is a renowned Congolese cartoonist. He has been described by the BBC as “the Congolese author best known outside his country.” Baruti is the co-founder of the Atelier de Création et de l’Initiation à l’Art Creative Workshop for an Initiation to Art) to encourage talented youth in Kinshasa, and he is responsible for organizing the first Afro BD show in Kinshasa in the effort to promote African comics. He currently lives in Kinshasa. In 2023, Barly was named Facilitator of Partnerships and Cultural Relations in Europe by the Congolese Ministry of Culture.Thierry Bellefroid works for the Belgian television company, RTB. He has published three novels, a collection of short stories and a digital novel. Amongst many things, he has been a member of numerous comics juries; he has been a member of Groupe d’Experts sur la Bande Dessinée pour la Communauté Française de Belgique since its creation in 2001 and a commissioner for the Commission for Aid to Comics of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium until 2015; he coordinated comic strip animations for eight years for the Brussels Book Fair; and has participated in the catalogs of many comics exhibitions. Ivanka Hahnenberger has translated over 60 comics and graphic novels, including several highly acclaimed titles such as Climate Changed, Blue is the Warmest Color, Madame Livingstone (a 2021 New York Times Globetrotting title) and Catherine’s War, which won her the Silver 2021 Batchelder Award. She has lived in Europe since 1983, primarily in France and Germany but with several short stays in other European nations, and presently lives in London.

"This is no typical sports story. Through a sharp and insightful lens, Bellefroid and Baruti explore how the Cold War’s shadow loomed large over the fight, turning it into a global political chess match, with Zaire’s dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, at the heart of the drama....Baruti’s vivid and detailed illustrations bring this high-stakes drama to life, perfectly capturing the intensity of the moment and the tension of the Cold War backdrop. The artwork and storytelling mesh seamlessly, giving the reader not only a historical thriller but also a visual feast....Chaos in Kinshasa is a must-read for both sports enthusiasts and thriller aficionados alike, offering a compelling blend of history, politics, and human drama. It’s a remarkable testament to the intersection of sports and global politics, told through the rich and immersive lens of a graphic novel." — Didier Gondola, African Access Review, starred review"Mixing real people and events with fictional Cold War–era espionage, Barly Baruti and Thierry Bellefroid’s Chaos in Kinshasa is a lively graphic thriller that uses the“Rumble in the Jungle”—the famed 1974 Muhammad Ali–George Foreman heavyweight boxing title bout—and the vividly rendered capital city of Kinshasa as its backdrop and setting." - Publishers Weekly"[Chaos in Kinshasa] is really great. I totally recommend it. If you didn’t have any idea of the intrigue and politics behind the Rumble in the Jungle, you have to read this." - Ivanka Hahnenberger, Five Books"Baruti’s art in Chaos in Kinshasa fits its thematic storytelling well. His characters are realistic and feature vivid expressions, almost photographic in capturing the strong emotions of the moment. The backgrounds are intricately detailed with complexities that hint at all the same complexities in the Cold War era. The watercolor-style colors show that the world can be at once beautiful as well as haunting with blurred lines behind the inked borders." - Jeff Provine, Blogcritics"In this intense graphic novel, a Harlem street thug at the Ali-Foreman 'Rumble in the Jungle' in 1974 gets mixed up in a lethal coup attempt." - Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"Fans of the Rumble in the Jungle will enjoy reading this creative account of the iconic 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman brought to life with brilliant illustrations and a riveting storyline. Highly recommended!" - Michelle Sikes, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, African Studies & History at Penn State