Joe: Africa's Entertainment Monthly magazine cover, February 1975

Joe was a monthly satire magazine from Kenya created in 1973 by writer and publisher Hillary Ng’weno and artist Terry Hirst. It's named after the scruffy, balding man that appears on every cover and throughout the issue, Joe, “a common man who used humour to deal with and expose the realities of urban life in contemporary Africa” (Chimurenga). Joe is often seen chasing after the younger, beautiful-looking women to the chagrin of the older, more traditionally dressed women usually reprimanding him.

A similar interaction is illustrated by Hirst in this issue where women are protesting for their rights and pushing for involvement in Kenyan politics, a reference to what was happening in Kenya at this time.  Joe appears in the crowd hitting on the obviously younger and more “hip” looking woman, where even the dog is mesmerized by her, or rather her bare legs.

It's interesting to think about how a light-hearted, satirical illustration could be taken and what is good or bad about the popularity of it. It brings visibility to what women were struggling with in Kenya but also makes light of men's objectifying view. Another important piece of context is other “humor” magazines at this time which were objectifying women to a much higher degree.

https://chimurengachronic.co.za/joe/

https://magculture.com/blogs/journal/nicky-hirst-mass-magazine