Les Qui Quoi sparks new conversations on identity at SIBF

November 13, 2025 / 1:33 PM

Sharjah24: In a warm exchange that moved between nostalgia and new ideas, French creator Laurent Rivelaygue and Emirati writer Mohamad Al Shibani joined moderator Zeina Basil at the ongoing 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) to explore how humour and comics can nurture empathy, curiosity and connection among young readers. The launch of Les Qui Quoi by Kalimat Group marked a milestone for children’s literature in Arabic, expanding access to one of France’s most imaginative comic universes.

A playful comic universe

Laurent Rivelaygue, a content creator, described the Qui Quoi—a cheerful group of six friends exploring existential questions in quirky, humorous ways—as a world where “chaos, creativity and kindness live side by side.”

“We often just sit together with piles of pages and draw at the same time,” he said. “It’s playful and unpredictable; just like the characters themselves.” He added that the cast, a mix of animals and humans, mirrors the emotions of real children: “They argue, get sad, laugh, and tease each other… They’re not perfect. They’re real.”

Growing from page to screen

Reflecting on the evolution of the series, Rivelaygue noted: “It began as a small creative experiment, where we went from one book to another. Now it’s become 52 episodes. We never planned it. It just grew, like a conversation that never ends.”

Comics as a cultural mirror

Another content creator, Mohamad Al Shibani, highlighted that comics, while humorous, also serve as a window into cultural understanding. “When children see themselves in characters from other cultures, they learn that difference is not something to fear, but to celebrate,” he said. “It’s an excellent way to start a conversation about who we are and how we can be friends despite differences.”

Influences and storytelling traditions

Shibani credited classics like Tintin for shaping Arab readers’ appreciation of illustrated storytelling. “Tintin looks simple, but it’s deceptively complex,” he said. “That kind of layered storytelling – with humour, tension and visual rhythm – is what we hope to build upon in our region.”

The universal language of humour

Both creators agreed that humour remains a universal connector. “There’s something wonderful about a joke that you laugh at as a child, and then again 20 years later for a different reason,” Shibani added.

The discussion was part of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, held under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’ and organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) until 16 November.