Controversial cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro aka Zapiro came face to face with his Jewish roots on SABC2 on the 20th September 2009 in the last episode of “Who do you think you are?”
Acknowledgement and kind permission for use of cartoon from his official website. Get invited to his book launch. www.Zapiro.com
Acknlowedgements: Mail and Guardian
Ancestry24 helped Jonathan find his family history which spans an impressive 5 generations with his ancestral roots being connected to Poland, Lithuania, Germany – just to mention a few. Most South African jews originate from Lithuania and many are unaware of the history surrounding the atrocities that took place their – is Jonathan going to be able to deal with the history that he knows nothing about? Have you found your family history on Ancestry24?
His family roots go beyond the norm from Cantor’s to Cartoonist’s, don’t miss out on this last episode of “Who do you think you are?” as we travel down the political road of humour to see just how Jonathan’s ancestral past has impacted on his comical aspirations for making fun of politicians.
Have you seen his family Tree?
Usually in the firing line Zapiro provides the media world with controversial political and satirical cartoon jokes which has caused many a stir in his life. His love of design and art has not stopped him from doing what he does best and that is making people laugh at other people without being told that it is wrong.
In 2006 Zapiro was sued by Zuma in a R15-million defamation lawsuit for the cartoonist’s depictions of the ANC leader around the time of his rape trial. Zapiro attached a shower to the head of the image of the ANC president, a reference to Zuma’s statement during the trial that he took a shower to reduce the risk of HIV infection after having sex with his accuser.
He was again sued in 2009 by Jacob Zuma for his cartoon “Rape of Justice” that was published in the Sunday times on 7th September 2008.
Find out more about Jonathan please go to Whos Who
In 2009 South Africa went on a voyage of discovery as we tracked the ancestry of some of South Africa’s most influential celebrities. Who Do You Think You Are?
Everyone was captivated as well-known personalities such as Dawn Matthews, Colin Moss, Dion Chang, Patricia Glyn, Vusi Mhalasela and contraversial cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (aka Zapiro) went in search of their family history, bringing them face-to-face with the hidden stories of their ancestors. These celebrities will had a pivotal role in the series; their stories were used as “emblems” of the historical trends that have created modern South Africa and their experiences enthused viewers to think about and start exploring their own family ancestry.
Each episode was presented as a highly personalised film, yet the wider historical themes they reveal situates the audience in the broader South African historical context. South Africa’s most comprehensive ancestral and genealogical service, Ancestry24, assisted producers and researchers of Who Do You Think You Are? Ancestry24′s Channel Manager, Heather MacAlister, spent many hours in the archives and at various other repositories to assist with the research of the individual celebrities.
Join us as we effectively travel back in time to meet the featured celebrities` extended family and those that knew them, and walk where their ancestors lived and worked.
The international series format has triggered a general interest in family history and a return to libraries, museums and domestic travel as people go back to the small towns they or their families came from.
The first episode of this groundbreaking series features actress Dawn Matthews known best for her role in Egoli. Dawn goes back to her roots in Oudsthoorn to find out more about her real past.
There’s only one way to find out. Be sure to tune into SABC2 at 21:00 on Sunday, 16 August for the first episode in the 2nd series of Who Do You Think You Are?
Dawn Matthews
Colin Moss
Dion Chang
Patricia Glyn
Vusi Mahlasela
Zapiro
Riaan Cruywagen
Nthati Moshesh
Meshack Mavuso
Candice Moodley
HHp/Jabulani Tsambo
Kurt Schoonraad