‘Being white gave me privileges in Afghanistan’

The graphic novelist from France, best known for Kabul Disco Vols 1 and 2, was at the recent Kolkata Literary Meet. Here, he talks about his books, Afghanistan, and about representation

1

Indian readers know you because of your Kabul Disco books, since most of your other work has not been released here. When did you last visit Afghanistan?

My last trip to Afghanistan was in 2009. This was after I had finished working on both the Kabul Disco books. I went back because I was missing the place and the people. Having spent so much time there, I have a special feeling for the country. Unfortunately, it has been 13 years since my last visit. Many of the friends that I had made there do not live in Afghanistan any longer. They have migrated to other places with their families and their loved ones because it seemed safer to get out, and pursue a life that was less filled with threats to their lives every single day. What is happening there right now is very sad. I think of Afghanistan a lot but, honestly, I do not know when I will be able to go there again. 2 How was your experience and depiction of Afghanistan shaped by being French and white?

I was much younger when I wrote and illustrated those books. I knew very little about Afghanistan. I was just starting out there, and working on the graphic novels was more of a creative outlet to document and share my experiences. I was not trying to be an expert or educate anyone about Kabul. I was trying to make sense of what I was seeing around me. I do not pretend that it is the only way to see Kabul. It is my view, a French guy’s perspective.

Being French and white gave me many privileges, and it also made some people suspicious. I travelled a lot in Afghanistan. Apart from Kabul, I went to Mazar-i-Sharif, Bamiyan, Herat, Kandahar, and several other places. Tribal leaders were curious about why I was in their country, who I was working for, and whether I was a spy, but they were also bound by a traditional code of honour and hospitality. By custom, they are supposed to take really good care of foreigners, and feed them well. I must say that it worked out really well for me. As a guest, I too had to be responsible. Religion can be a delicate subject in a context like Afghanistan. It was okay to say that I was a Christian but it was important to be absolutely clear that I was not there to preach about Christianity or convert anyone. In France, on the other hand, the situation is quite different. Half the population is not religious. I observed that, in Afghanistan, people find it difficult to understand the concept of atheism. 3 Tell us about your new projects.

My latest book, À la Maison des femmes (A House for Women), was released during the pandemic. It has stories from a health care unit that provides support to vulnerable women in Saint Denis, Paris. I am thinking of some other projects now. After the Kolkata Literary Meet, I am going to spend a few days in Delhi and meet Indian artists there. We have been discussing ideas for collaboration but it is early to tell you.