Sailing for Justice: How did an Anime Pirate Flag Become a Protest Banner in Indonesia?
By Vincy Mighulo Masaka and Takaedza Tafirei
Ever wondered how fandoms shape different cultures? Think about it: in the music world, fandoms dictate the latest fashion trends, with K-Pop, EDM, and Rock fans wearing their leather jackets and devotion. In gaming, fandoms build sprawling online communities where people bond over more than just gameplay. But what happens in the anime world?
Two words: One Piece.
I started watching One Piece back in 2018, and was drawn to one character in particular, Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy with a dream to be the world’s greatest pirate. His power came from the Devil Fruit, granting him strange abilities that worked to his advantage. He outwitted even the fiercest of enemies. A boy in over his head, they thought. But their assumptions fed into his strategy. His strength was not physical, but was symbolic for the loyalty, defiance, and freedom he stood for.
Since 2024, major civil protests have been led by Generation Z, a young group of activists who want to see positive change. Individuals driven by the hope that they can be the change they wish to see. Their leader? Not a decorated politician, or a celebrity. But a fictional pirate. Somehow, Luffy jumped out of the screens and into the streets. In Indonesia, his Jolly Roger flag was hoisted and spray-painted on the streets of Jakarta. The government couldn’t arrest an anime character, so they banned the flag instead.
That moment made me pause. What happens when fandoms cross into activism?
I once spoke to a friend who said, “Activists come up with the craziest of ideas to make a statement.” It reminded me of the #rejectfinancebill2024 protests in Kenya, where Gen Z protestors showed up in peaceful, comical ways, but made their voices heard. Maybe we all carry a piece of Luffy’s spirit. To outsiders, these gestures may seem odd or childish. But to those inside the movement, they are acts of power.
Could activism then be its own fandom? Maybe so.
Like any fanbase, it stirs emotion, builds identity, and inspires loyalty. The difference is that instead of rallying behind an artist, a game, or an anime character, this “fandom” rallies behind the idea of progressive social change. It has icons, think Malala, Greta, Fela, and Wangari Maathai, rituals such as marches, sit-ins, and flash mobs, and lore, from “Power to the People” to “Another World is Possible”. It isn’t just about resistance, it is about belonging to something bigger.
And maybe that is the missing piece. Activism as fandom is not about finding heroes, it is about becoming them. It is about us realising our collective citizenship agency.
Vincy Mighulo Masaka is a Kenyan human rights defender and Gender and Development expert. She is the Project Officer- Host Liaison for the Digital Democracy Initiative at CIVICUS.
Takaedza Tafirei is CIVICUS' Programme Coordinator for Freedom of Peaceful Assembly.
