Afghan artist adopts "Jihadi Gangster" persona to lampoon official corruption


Aman Mojadidi, a Florida-born Afghan-American, lives in Kabul, where he uses surreal stunts and comedy to highlight corruption and incompetence. He dresses up like a cop and stops motorists and then gives them bribes, he puts up election posters advertising his Jihadi credentials and asking for the public's votes, and so on. He's like the Ali G of Kabul.

Mr. Mojadidi, who spent his teen years as a vegetarian, high-school dropout and surfer in Florida, most famously channeled widespread contempt for the country's corrupt leaders by adopting the persona of "Jihadi Gangster"–a comical blend of Afghan mujahedeen and American gangsta rappers.

The most controversial photograph from his "Jihadi Gangster" series–"After a Long Day's Work"–featured Mr. Mojadidi sitting on a couch in front of a gold-plated prosthetic leg and a table filled with alcohol, cashews and jade-tipped bullets.

With his black turban and golden gun hanging down below his long gray beard, Mr. Mojadidi was pictured blithely using a remote to switch TV channels as a scantily clad woman with a blue burqa covering her face fawned over her man.

This 'Jihadi' Is Armed With a Subversive Sense of Humor