Libyan comedian “Kafu” has the last laugh… and leaves
Artistic and cultural circles in Libya after the death of artist Khaled Kafu at the age of 61, who died of a heart attack and was later hospitalized. After his death, an outstanding page in the history of Libyan theater and drama was closed, full of smiles, which were imprinted in the memory of the audience.
The deceased left a clear mark on the artistic conscience of Libya with a busy career during which he presented excellent portrayals of comedic and dramatic characters. Especially in the series “Hey Haki” and “Zanqat Al-Rih”, with his recent drama experiences “Withdrawal Symptoms” and “Decision”.
Libyan director Osama Rizq expressed his deep shock at the loss of Kafu, saying that the deceased “will remain firmly in the memory of Libyans, given that he left behind a diverse artistic legacy, especially in the comedic works he presented with artist Abdel Basset Bukanda as part of an amazing duo through which we were able to develop the field of visual diversity.”
Rizq explained in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that this type of work combined acting scenes and lyrical sketches, noting that Kafu and Boganda contributed to the development of this artistic genre and took it to another level, as it was no longer limited to sketches and lyrical monologues, but included scenes that were more characterized by a black quality. action tools. These works were exhibited during the month of Ramadan, immediately after breaking the fast.
He spoke about how the deceased was much loved and popular because of his witty and gentle manners, adding, “He worked with me in the first part of the series (Zanqat al-Rih) in 2019 and in it he played a role far from comedy, to present a different color.
Cafu has also produced various feature and cinematic works, including the films Bazaar, The Beggar, and Night on the Moon, in addition to numerous television and theater productions.
Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba, head of the interim government of national unity, mourned Kafu, saying in a statement on Thursday that “with his departure, the Libyan artistic scene has lost one of the faces associated with works and a presence that influenced society, and his career will remain in the memory of those who knew him and followed his work.”
Many Libyans on social media also mourned the artist Kafu and bid him a warm farewell, expressing grief over his loss and recalling the impact he left on the memory of Libyan society.
Libyan activist and blogger Ahlam Ben Taboun said: “The artist who made Libyans laugh during the nights of Ramadan has passed away and left sweet memories and laughter in our homes that we will never forget. Kafu was an artist close to the people. He entered our homes with his art and wit and today we are losing one of the faces that left an imprint on Libya.”
Bashir Zoabieh, a writer and editor-in-chief of the Libyan newspaper Bawabat al-Wasati, said that the Libyan art scene had lost “its most outstanding comedy artist after the death of artist Khaled Kafu, who suffered a sudden heart attack and was not admitted to the care room for a long time.”
Zoabieh added that the beloved late Kafu “had a distinctive personality with a great ability to embody and perform convincingly without being overbearing, and he had a wide audience that eagerly followed his various works, including series, sketches, TV and radio programs. He left behind an important legacy of comedy works that enriches and strengthens the Libyan artistic library”.
Many Libyan pages on social networks, including “Only in Libya”, said: “The painful thing is that death does not only take away from the dead, but also takes away from our days. We said goodbye to the memories of Ramadan, laughter, scenes and words that we remembered without realizing it.
He concluded: “We grew up and he remained in our memories, as we knew him by his smiling face, his laugh and his light spirit, even minutes before his death. Today, when the dust is buried, we feel as if the page of our childhood has been closed with him forever.”