Tayo Fatunla, a former cartoonist with The PUNCH, has been honoured as the Professional Creative Cartoonist of the Year at the 2024 Annual Achievement Recognition Awards, presented by The Building Blocks Initiative in the United Kingdom.
The British-born Nigerian and graduate of the Kubert School in the United States, is a prominent editorial cartoonist, comic artist, writer, and illustrator known for his educational comics and works that highlight African history.
His notable creations include the Black History Walk map, which honours influential Black Britons at Camberwell Green Park, UK.
His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with major institutions like the BBC, The Guardian UK, the British Museum, the U.S. National Museum of African Art, and high-profile personalities such as Nigerian artist Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy.
The Building Blocks Initiative, founded in 2001, is dedicated to community development and empowerment, and the ARA awards focus on individuals and organisations from Black and minority ethnic communities, providing valuable networking opportunities.
Fatunla’s achievements continued at the 2024 w3 Awards, where he won Gold and Silver in the General Video: Non-Profit category for his animation titled, “Conflict is the Main Driver of Hunger”.
This piece, produced in June 2024, vividly portrays life in a displacement camp in Somalia and highlights the devastating impact of hunger.
Earlier this year, Fatunla also served as a facilitator at the PUNCH Media Foundation’s Editorial Cartooning Workshop, supported by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, aimed at enhancing the skills of editorial cartoonists and fostering a vibrant cartoonist community.
