Kem, Kimon Evan Marengo (1904 – 1988)

Kem original cartoon artwork

Kimon Evan Marengo grew up in Alexandria, and from 1923 to 1931 he edited and contributed to a political weekly called Maalesh, which was published in Cairo and Alexandria. In 1929 Marengo went to Paris to study at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques, and began contributing to a wide range of international publications, including Le Petit Parisien, Le Canard Enchainee, John Bull, La Bourse Egyptienne, Cartoon Comment, Men Only, New York Times, Liberal News, Razzle, Daily Herald and Daily Telegraph. He signed his work with his initials "KEM." In 1939 Marengo went to Oxford University, but did not complete his degree before war broke out. Asked to provide some ideas for Middle East propaganda, he ended up working for the Foreign Office as political adviser on the Middle East, and heading the "KEM Unit" to produce cartoons, postcards, posters, and other propaganda material. After the war Marengo was awarded the Lagion d'Honneur and Croix de Guerre and also contributed political cartoons to the Spectator.