The power of humour

When hatred is wrapped in satire, xenophobia in irony and fascism in jokes, it leaves mainstream society struggling to respond effectively.

Mana Neyestani is among Iran’s most popular cartoonists. In our interview, the exiled artist talks about freedom of thought, red lines and why political satire is especially important in authoritarian countries.

In Kenya, memes are shared widely on social media. They are a popular way of criticising the government in general and President William Ruto in particular. As funny as some of the content is, the social background is tragic.

In India, women comedians challenge social norms, the patriarchy and also their own perception of the world. They push the boundaries of what is considered humour, but they don’t just want people to laugh – they want people to listen.

Around the world, satirists draw, write and film for freedom, often under repressive conditions. But not every political joke promotes democratic values: Extremist forces use humour for their ends, too.

True and apparent seriousness separate journalism and satire. The task of the latter is to question the conclusions of the former, explains Tim Wolff, publisher of satire magazine Titanic. He predicts: Both are facing an uphill battle.