Jinja: Art and culture are integral in advocating for animal welfare. This is evident from the just-concluded Jinja International Art Festival, which commenced on October 24, showcasing an incredible array of artistic talent from across the globe.
Artists from Rwanda, Comoros, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe came together to celebrate cultural diversity and advocate for animal welfare through their creative expressions.
World Animal Protection, an international civil society organization advocating for animal welfare, organized the annual event at Hem Gardens in Jinja city on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Ian Muriu, the Digital Content and Communication Officer at World Animal Protection, said, “As a global animal welfare organization, we are participating in this year’s festival using art as a powerful tool to advocate for animal welfare.”
He emphasized that “Our presence at the festival underscores the critical role that creativity plays in raising awareness about the plight of animals and the importance of creating a new world for animals where they live free from cruelty and suffering.”
The festival featured a spoken word poetry competition and discussion workshops meant to scout for animal advocacy themes and empower artists in their craft.
Kennedy Leaky Odongo from Greentalk Art said, “Art has the ability to transcend borders and communicate universal messages. Through our collaboration, we aim to inspire change and promote compassion.”
He added that “We hope to create a networked movement of artists globally using art to create a better world for animals.”
As the event culminated, artists were called upon to use their talents to advocate for just causes in society, highlighting the connections between artistic expression, community engagement, and advocacy for sustainable practices.
Art continues to be a mirror to the soul and how society perceives and shapes the continent’s future.
Muriu noted that “We’re thrilled to be part of the Jinja International Poetry Festival, where art aims to ignite minds and spark action.”
He calls for coming together to utilize our voices to raise awareness and create a more compassionate and sustainable future for animals, people, and our planet.
