Aiko

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Edward Aikobua was born on Saturday 7th January 1984 in Jinja (UG) to Elizabeth (from Aliba in Ayivu) and James Dramani from Ojapi (Parish-clan in Maracha); their 2nd son, but 6th child out of 7. Pennamed "Aiko" [shortened from Ayiko meaning "Happiness" in Lugbara], he is a Black Ugandan Artist who believes in GOD (JESUS is the Way). His childhood aspiration of becoming a Footballer like Romario collapsed in Primary 7, but now he plays with words and pictures through an atelier named "AikoGraphics" since Sunday 2nd February 2003 on Mt. Wati Road (in Arua). Aiko discovered focussed inking without pencil sketches while drawing a Bob Marley portrait for Senior 4 deskmate Jean Rwamukaga (Kaahwa) in Y2K. However, he dropped out of the Fine Art Class during S5 at Makerere College School because of constantly deteriorating grades (Average deficit of 7 percent annually since S1 at SMACK where he studied Fine Art with Maurice Kaweekwa, Jude Karuhanga, etc) and tried to join the Technical Drawing class instead, but was rejected. With teary eyes, he decided to teach himself how to draw cartoons motivated by Enrique Badia Romero and Mad Magazine from Ivan Musoke plus more reverently started writing the name GOD in all caps. He was supported by classmate Arshad Bholim (Ahmed) and others who got him gigs. Aiko chased after financial papers by becoming a committed logo designer, portrait artist, poster maker, mural painter, (tradigital) editorial cartoonist for The Standard Newspaper at UCU Mukono (2007 to 2015 and 2019 to 2020 lockdown) plus Sunday Vision (2010 to 2011), blogger since 2008, book illustrator, screenwriter, video editor, researcher, etc while another goal is to make machines learn Lugbara inspired by the beautiful Cynthia Letasi (His first crush in West Nile whom he loved with all his heart while neighbours between 2001 to 6). Although he failed to marry a Mukonjo three-months-older than him named Alice (whom he reconnected with three years after growing apart when she apologised), his "bounceback-girlfriend" Emily meanwhile encouraged him not to stop drawing because creativity is in him. Lindsay Hames (American poet) inspired him to use computer layers during the Coronavirus lockdown. On 1st September 2020, fellow UCU graduate Rech Ray (aka Nakanwagi Nsamba) tagged Aiko as one of the Best Cartoonists she knows on a Facebook post where Patrick Idringi (Salvado the Comedian) wanted cartoonists for a project; it felt surreal. Two months later, in a project commissioned by Maureen Nankya (Producer of "The Office [TV Series]" which premiered on Top TV), he renewed his commitment to making Art while preparing to draw the third portrait that happened to be Jackline Katusiime (Ugandan actress). He drew the first two again plus fresh ones with renewed zeal, like Epiphany. Aiko has written books including Aiko's Lugbara Dictionary (2016), Dreamsurfing (2020), United Gombololas, The Stones Will Praise GOD (2021; about Arua's Tallest Buildings), Plan G, etc. German-born Canadian writer Thomas Froese called him the "Best Cartoonist in Uganda". As a flexitarian, his favourite food is rice, beans and chapati plus maize. Aiko's Best Athlete is Michael Jordan since 1992, loves Uganda Cranes and Die Mannschaft (Germany) plus Brazil football teams as well as became a lifelong Arsenal fan during the 1998 FA Cup Final and Messi fanboy around 2009 though followed Real Madrid too plus loves many other people. Notable artworks include: UCIFA (2007 logo); theatrical backdrops for KADS Uganda (2007, 2009, 2012); The Casual (2008 Maisha Filmlab short film); Arua District Local Government (2009 blog); Procurement Initiatives Asia-Pacific (2011 logo); Arua Citystate (2016 shield) emblazoned on the 2021 Arua Central Market; Springs Kindergarten (murals); Block Owners (2017 crest in SMACK League); Maracha View (2018 trademark); Arua Channel; Lugbara Translate (2019); HR Handyman (2023 logo); Ojapi Converter (2024); illustrations for a 2025 book by his big brother (Vyo) entitled "Quills, Heuristics & Quips: Weaving a Path to Wisdom"; Abairo Falls (blog); etc. Besides fluency in Lugbara, English and Luganda, he understands Lusoga and Swahili plus bits of French (which he was taught for two years); tried to learn Japanese and Chinese, but found them quite hard. While younger, he wanted to practise magic in Jinja plus start Uganda's first 24/7 Porn TV station, but changed his mind on accepting JESUS into his heart on Tuesday 2nd December 1997. He hates complaining about boredom, theft plus belittling others. Aiko is a (Depression Network) Suicidologist since 2016 after his first favourite cousin during childhood hanged himself. His advice to people who want to do Art is: Pray, sketch, polish, share, rest; repeat...