Jommeke #278 - 'Het Nianmonster' (2015).
Sarina Ahmad is the granddaughter of 'Jommeke' creator Jef Nys and has created a variety of merchandising art for the series, including a comics mural in Wilrijk, the largest of its kind in Belgium. Ahmad has also written and drawn the 'Jommeke' story 'Het Nianmonster' (2015), the 278th installment in the series.
Early life
Sarina Ahmad-Nys was born in 1981 as the daughter of an Indian father and Belgian mother. Her grandfather Jef Nys often made drawings for her and her three brothers, and encouraged the children to draw too. Her aunt Agnes Nys was the colorist of her grandfather's 'Jommeke' series. One of Sarina's brothers is Filip Nys (1975), better known as DJ Phill Dan Cunha, who has regularly performed at the Tomorrowland festival.
Interviewed by Pieter Deschoolmeester for De Stripspeciaalzaak (28 February 2024), Sarina said she considered Jef Nys a father figure, since she had never been close to her biological father, who had left the family home when she was eight years old. Grandfather Jef Nys visited the family almost every day, becoming Sarina's mentor on school affairs and personal issues. At his advice, she started studying animation at the Sint-Lucas School of Arts in Ghent. However, grandfather Nys felt that the school's anatomical and model drawing lessons were subpar, so he educated his granddaughter in these fields himself. After her studies, Sarina was a freelance TV sound engineer for nine years, often working abroad.
'De Sterrenmachine', poetic gag from the 'Jommeke for Life' album (2011).
Professional career
During her studies, Sarina Ahmad had begun working on an animated 'Jommeke' film, a project that remained unfinished. In the final years of Jef Nys' life, she began working on a couple of Jommeke-related projects. Together with her grandfather, she made Jommeke-themed illustrations for a heritage museum in the fishing village of Koksijde, located in the former house of Carol Nys, the grandfather of Jef Nys. When Jef Nys turned ill, she started drawing the occasional 'Jommeke' gag for him, to provide some escapism. Some of this material, along with new pages, was published in the 2011 comic book 'Jommeke For Life', as part of the humanitarian project Music for Life, organized by the radio station Studio Brussel. Sarina also illustrated some booklets for early readers.
Shortly after Jef Nys passed away in 2009, Sarina Ahmad's mother also died. On top of that, she started suffering from strange ailments which doctors originally couldn't properly diagnose. Ultimately, it was discovered that she had Moyamoya syndrome, which narrows the brain arteries, resulting in headaches, dizziness and brain infarcts, and leading her to undergo operations and rehabilitation programs. Her condition forced her to give up her day job as a sound engineer. From home, she has continued to work on art projects, including contributions to the 'Jommeke' franchise, for instance designs for beach blankets and figurines. Sarina also designed the "Gouden Gobelijn" award, after the professor from the ‘Jommeke’ series, which academics at the University of Antwerp hand out to the professor who made the most significant contributions. She also designed a golden award statuette based on the character of Flip, awarded by the Ketnet TV channel to deserving individuals from pop culture.
In December 2015, Ballon Media released 'Het Nianmonster', the 278th installment in the 'Jommeke' series, fully written and drawn by Sarina Ahmad. It took her four years to complete, and on two occasions, out of perfectionism, she started the entire story over from scratch. Due to her condition, she hasn't been able to create more stories so far, because she is strongly advised not to follow exhausting deadlines. Her favorite 'Jommeke' characters are the beguines, Filiberke and professor Gobelijn. Since the death of Jef Nys, the regular 'Jommeke' series has been continued by the lead artists and writers Philippe Delzenne and Gerd Van Loock.
Graphic contributions and recognition
On 20 May 2015, a 'Jommeke'-themed comic book mural designed by Sarina Ahmad was unveiled in the Rue de la Chanterelle/Lokvogelstraat in Laeken, Brussels, as part of the Brussels Comic Book Route. Another mural was inaugurated in Wilrijk on 8 November 2017, at the corner of the Heistraat and the Gaston Fabrelaan, the largest of its kind in Flanders. On 3 January 2018, Sarina Ahamad received the Geitetrofee ("Goat's Trophy") for this mural from the municipal board of Wilrijk.
Jommeke #278 - 'Het Nianmonster' (2015).