"He who loses himself in his passion loses less than he who loses his passion," warns Saint Augustine, the great thinker and philosopher of Late Antiquity.

Why are we reflecting on this in this Mozaïk editorial? Quite simply because, for the sixteenth time, passion remains our main motivation and our reason for being. It is, in a way, our DNA.

Moreover, this issue of the magazine pays tribute to a man driven by passion: Jean Luc Schneider. He did not promise mountains and wonders—he delivered them, but only to those as passionate as he was. A special section, beautifully curated by Christophe Cassiau-Haurie (himself a passionate soul), bears witness to the significant work Jean Luc Schneider accomplished in the world of comics in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Each contribution to this tribute—whether a text, a drawing, or a comic strip—reflects that inner spark that this bookseller-gendarme-publisher knew how to recognize and nurture in each of his "friends."

Why the quotation marks around "friends"? Because the founder of the Cyclone BD festival was also a passionate admirer of Spirou. And what is expected of a Spirou friend? "A friend of Spirou is honest and upright. A friend of Spirou has courage and knows how to say no. A friend of Spirou loves free and joyful discipline." Undoubtedly, those who knew him will recognize him in these traits.

"A fire juggler," confides Rolling Pen; "he had a complex personality," warns Christophe Cassiau-Haurie. His friends were eager to respond to Mozaïk’s call to dedicate a special section in his honor. Jean Luc Schneider had been a longtime friend of Mozaïk. He walked alongside us from our early days, from the Indigo adventure to the great Mozaïk journey. More than once in his lifetime, he contributed to and enriched the pages of our journal and magazine. Honoring the memory of a man who loved and shared art was only natural, and it took us some time to release this issue. His passing caught us all off guard, but as true enthusiasts, we were determined to pay him this tribute.

Besides, what is art if not a vast and privileged space to express and live out one’s passions? Our loyal readers know this—our sections are rich, diverse, and committed to exploring arts and cultures from around the world. Art awakens and reveals our ability to feel empathy, love, anger, or even indignation. Yes, indignation against injustice, prejudice, and absurdities of all kinds.

This brings us to our second feature in this issue #16: albinism in Africa. Skillfully led by Joachin Michael Rakotoarisoa, our future editor-in-chief, this special section delves into a topic that is rarely discussed—except in the most horrific news stories and obituaries. For Mozaïk, the goal was not to portray these individuals as mere "subjects" of articles, but as humans, fueled by passions, just like us. We explore their world, share their dreams, and discover their aspirations. The issue includes testimonies from models, doctors, and others—people just like us. This feature is an invitation to get to know, to understand, and, most importantly, not to look away.

A fresh perspective—that is what it’s all about. Seeing the world differently, beyond our differences in territory, language, culture, and origin. To make this possible, artists act as bridges: writers serve as ink wells, illustrators as palettes, and photographers as mirrors. They are all passionate. They all contribute to making the world fairer and less stifling. And for that, we thank them deeply.

We also express our gratitude to our loyal readers, new readers, our team, and all our contributors.

Let’s remember—what has allowed Mozaïk to exist and continue existing is our shared passion. It has been our bridge, our connection. It takes us beyond our individuality toward others, toward a community, a cause, a work of art...

For this new year, we make no resolutions. Or perhaps just one: to preserve our passion.

Better to lose yourself in it than to lose it. That is the best wish we can all share.

Best wishes!