Gaddafi graffiti speaks volumes in Tripoli

The reaction to Libya’s four decades of oppression has been vividly scrawled, painted and drawn across Tripoli in the weeks since Muammar Gaddafi was cast from power. More often than not, it’s the ex-dictator himself who is the subject of the street art and its slogans.

Sometimes funny and hopeful, other times sad, insulting or even crude, the graffiti that now adorns buildings, bridges, signs and storefronts across the capital has become a telling assessment of the Libyan people’s sentiments.

A wall painting by the “Youth of Nasr [Victory] Street” in central Tripoli reads “Libya is in my heart” [All photos by David Poort]   An image of ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi in a trash can was found near An Nasr Street in downtown Tripoli “Here I am at the cats’ and rats’ graveyard,” says a cartoon depiction of Gaddafi on a wall near Tripoli’s Dahra bus station   “Who are you?” asks an unseen figure who points a finger at Gaddafi, mocking one of the most famous phrases uttered by the ex-leader in his audio addresses. The answer: “Africa’s monkey of monkeys”, a parody on Gaddafi’s claim to be the “king of kings”. At the bottom, a rat says “We still need you”   This picture of Gaddafi fleeing was seen near Dahra bus station in central Tripoli   “Oh, Gaddafi, how do you want this to end? Either you or us [survive]” reads this frightening image near An Nasr Street   Gaddafi as a rat gets a substance sprayed in his face on a wall on An Nasr Street   “Hey, when are you going to punish those who [robbed] people’s money?” reads the graffiti near al Fatah Street in the Ed Dachla area of east Tripoli   Near Al Fatah Street, Ed Dachla, east Tripoli   “We are not going back to control. We have liberated ourselves. We have liberated our country,” reads elegant text near Second Ring Road   “Thanks to Qatar and to the United Arab Emirates” for contributions to the anti-Gaddafi effort    “Libya of the Future” states a futuristic image near Second Ring Road in central Tripoli   “February 17”, the day the revolution began, found near Second Ring Road   Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam: “Dad, tell the reptiles to crawl away”. Gaddafi: “Shut Up, you child!” Found near Souq al Juma’a Road   “I’m here, here, here,” says a rat-like Gaddafi as he points at a rat hole, with a sign reading “The Invincible Home” near Souq al Juma’a Road.   “Have the rebels come or not?” asks Gaddafi, popping out of a man hole, near Souq al Juma’a Road   A peace sign in the colors of the rebel flag on Al Fatah Street near Mitiga International airport   “Grandchildren of [anti-Italian resistance fighter Omar] Mukhtar” on Al Fatah Street on the Corniche, uptown Tripoli   “The rebels are coming” on Al Fatah Street at the Corniche in uptown Tripoli   “Wow, save me from the rebels” says Gaddafi depicted with a Star of David, while being kicked by a rebel boot, near Al Fatah Street in Corniche, uptown Tripoli   “Crawl up … crawl” on Al Fatah Street near the Corniche in uptown Tripoli   “We are not using force, yet” on Al Fatah Street around the Corniche in uptown Tripoli   Near al Fatah Street, Ed Dachla, in east Tripoli