Art and culture is integral has taken centre stage in advocating animal welfare. This is evident from the just concluded Jinja International Art Festival, which commenced on 24th October 2024 showcasing an 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 animal welfare through their creative expressions.
“As a global animal welfare organisation, we are participating in this year’s festival using art as a powerful tool to advocate for animal welfare,” said Mr Ian Muriu, The Digital Content and Communication Officer at World Animal Protection. “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 spoken word poetry competition and discussions workshops meant to scout for animal advocacy themes and empower artist in their craft.
Mr 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. We hope to create a networked movement of artists globally using art to create a better world for animals.”
Artists were called upon to use their talents to advocate for just courses in the society as there are connections between artistic expression, community engagement, and advocacy for sustainable practices.
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