SWD 20

Elisabeth Blanche Olofio, radio journalist, slain Central African Republic, 2014

Art: 2015
Media: Ink
Framed, 12 3/8 in. H x 40.5 W [31.3 cm. H x 102.8 W]

The drawing portrays slain journalist Elizabeth Blanche Olofio.

She was seriously injured on Jan. 8, 2013 when combatant rebels stormed a radio station in the Central African Republic. She was a radio journalist for Radio Be Oko.

~

The radio station was in the town of Bambari. She was specifically targeted by the gunmen. According to the International Press Institute, she survived the attack but eventually succumbed to her injuries and died on June 23, 2014.

~

The composition and layout of the birds wings was chosen by the artist at the Ornithology lab, Burke Museum of Natural History, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, May 2015. The wings the artist used were from bird wings from KwaZulu / Natal; and Orange Free State, S. Africa.

~

Two non-profits (there are many more) that aids journalists:

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Reporters without Borders (RWB), English language

The Facebook page of the French language Reporters without Borders, called: Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF)