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Art
4 Peace
Art
4 Peace giving colour to the Kibera community in spite
of fighting following elections in Kenya (07/08).
Kenya experienced widespread violence after disputed
elections in December/January 2007/08. The Kibera slum
was hard hit, with fighting, rape, and ethnic based
cleansing of business belonging to minority tribes.
Part of Kibera was in flames, and the community was
caught between the mob and the police. Beeing bombarded
with tear gass from one side, and stones from the other.
One ethnically mixed group, and therefore threatened
by the mob, was spared their wrath. The M2 art group
in the Kianda neighbourhood of Kibera survived the burning
and looting. This is an acknowledgment of their efforts
to bring art and colour to the slum community over years.
Through their art, they bring peace, creativity and
hope to the Kibera slum. The M2 group have used art
in Kibera to promote harmony, and give children a free
space to explore their artistic talents over years.
One member of the group: Solo 7, responded instantly
to the violence, making peace graffiti all over Kibera
and outside the slum. His efforts did not go unnoticed,
and was captured by major international news agencies.
But the real acknowledgment came from the slum community
who although his messages were controversial to some,
encouraged him to go on and fight for peace, in his
own way.
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