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Shadow to Strength: Exhibition and performance highlights

This series of short videos captures some of the artistic highlights from the exhibition and performances “Shadow to Strength: Resilience in the Face of Adversity”, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2024.

Nile Dawta

Event participants experienced Nile Dawta’s transformative Neo-Reggae sound as she performed tracks from her celebrated projects, blending art and activism. With a track record as a musician and gender advocate, Nile Dawta uses her artistry to drive social change. She has won the UN-Human Rights Art Competition and the Brazilian Young Talent Africa Music Awards, solidifying her position as a pioneer in East Africa’s Neo-Reggae movement.

Rebian Artis

Rebian Artis is a dynamic spoken word artist, writer, and activist who champions for equality, social justice, and human rights. Rebian has captivated audiences at @missingvoiceske, Usawa Festival, @mashujaafestival and beyond. Her powerful performances and words ignite conversation and inspire change.

Felicity Mudis

Felicity Mudis is an activist who uses spoken word and fashion. She cofounded with Aikos an initiative called Freedom In Healing that advocates for gender equality, mental wellness, and the eradication of sexual violence and other violations against women and girls through the power of art and media. She is passionate about spreading life and light through her work and has performed on a number of stages including @tedx_official, Jumuika Sikika Mtaani, Mask Awards, @hourpoetic , Poetry Cultural Exchange Uganda, the Annual SRHR and climate change Summit. She is the convener of @sisterdarlingmovement, an annual poetry event that focuses on telling the stories of African women for social change and raising emerging female poets.

A-zee Coptel

The exceptional Urban Sheng Hip-Hop artist and curator A-zee Copter is known for his distinctive vocal style and powerful storytelling. A-zee Coptel brings a unique blend of personal experiences and social commentary, making waves in Nairobi’s Embakasi area. He has collaborated with renowned artists like @julianikenya and @poetteardrops, fusing Afro, zouk, and R&B influences into his vibrant sound. Catch him on stages like Mukuru Festival, Pawa Cafe, Form Ni Gani Concert, Mashujaa Festival, and Good Governance Festival.

Spontaneous the Poet

Spontaneous the Poet is an award-winning spoken-word artist, artivist, and cultural curator with over a decade of impactful experience. Honoured with accolades such as the Africa Women Journal Awards (2023) by @femnetsecretariat, she co-directed the best-spoken word production, Give The Woman Her Flowers alongside @wanguikimoney. As the driving force behind initiatives like the @anikainitiative_ and @femalepoetske, her leadership and mentorship continue to inspire many. Currently serving on the advisory board of @icrw_org and a member of @poetryafterlunch_ke, Spontaneous is dedicated to using her platform to advocate for change through performances, art therapy and social media strategies for positive change. She is also the programs coordinator for Shadow to Strength @peace.tree.network.

King Kadija

“Shadow to Strength” visitors were able to enjoy some of King Kadija’s powerful tracks. He currently has two major projects: SAUTI YA BUBU MIXTAPE (10 songs) and MAOMBI YA MWIZI ALBUM (15 songs).

Ninah Tanya, presented by Shikkieh

Ninah Tanya is a visionary mixed-medium artist known for her work in digital art, murals, graffiti, and live painting. Based in Nairobi, Ninah blends art with purpose, managing projects at Unganisha Cultures to champion cultural awareness and environmental conservation. Her journey is one of creativity and impact, using her craft to inspire others to embrace their authentic selves and protect our planet.


Documentary “Shadow to Strength”: Artivism for human rights and against police brutality in Kenya

This documentary captures highlights of “Shadow to Strength”, an exhibition and performance event on human rights advocacy against police brutality in Kenya, held at the Kenya National Theatre Nairobi in December 2024.

“Shadow to Strength” showcased the power of artivism (art + activism) in the face of police brutality, reflecting experiences from Nairobi and Kisumu – and with important lessons for people facing police brutality anywhere in the world.

The documentary is an output of the project “Nonviolent Artivism Against Police Brutality in Kenya“.


New documentary mini-series “Shared knowledge on community self-protection in Colombia”

The documentary mini-series “Shared Knowledge on Community Self-Protection” sought to promote knowledge exchange between representatives of communities involved in various projects supported by the Creating Safer Space network in Colombia. It is an outcome of the Creating Safer Space regional meeting in Colombia in 2024, which found that Colombia has a wealth of nonviolent community self-protection experiences but often lacks opportunities to link those localised efforts.

In Episode 1, Norma, who participated in the project developed in collaboration with the Llano Verde Peace Seedbed in Cali, visits Harlequin and the Jugglers in Medellín, who participated in the Art That Protects project.

In Episode 2, Verónica, from the Water Conflicts project, travels with Luz Dey to Bajo Cauca to learn about the functioning of the Social Guarantee Process in that region, while in Episode 3, she shares her experiences at the Water Festival in Nariño, Antioquia.

In Episode 4, researchers from Art That Protects visit Lerma, where they learn about the self-protection experiences of indigenous communities living in the midst of a high-intensity armed conflict.

In Episode 5, Creating Safer Space Network researcher Laura Jiménez travels to Buenaventura to learn how the Cormepaz organisation has promoted unarmed civilian protection measures among communities living in a city marked by conflict and extractive economies.

Access all episodes HERE.


Documentary mini-series: Shared knowledge on community self-protection

The documentary mini-series “Shared Knowledge on Community Self-Protection” sought to promote knowledge exchange between representatives of communities involved in various projects supported by the Creating Safer Space network in Colombia. It is an outcome of the Creating Safer Space regional meeting in Colombia in 2024, which found that Colombia has a wealth of nonviolent community self-protection experience but often lacks opportunities to link those localised efforts.

To translate the episodes from Spanish into other languages, enable subtitling and auto-translation in the YouTube settings.

Episode 1

Norma, who participated in the project developed in collaboration with the Llano Verde Peace Seedbed in Cali, visited Harlequin and the Jugglers in Medellín, who participated in the Art That Protects project.

Episode 2

Verónica, from the Water Conflicts project, travelled with Luz Dey to Bajo Cauca to learn about the functioning of the Social Guarantee Process in that region.

Episode 3

Verónica, from the Water Conflicts project, shared her experiences at the Water Festival in Nariño, Antioquia.

Episode 4

The researchers from Art That Protects visited Lerma, where they learned about the self-protection experiences of indigenous communities living in the midst of a high-intensity armed conflict.

Episode 5

Laura Jiménez, a researcher with the Creating Safer Space Network, travelled to Buenaventura to learn how the Cormepaz organisation has promoted unarmed civilian protection measures among communities living in a city marked by conflict and extractive economies.

Full documentary

Watch the full documentary here:


Videos: Sensing/ thinking methodologies for PAR

These videos document four distinct methodologies for Participatory Action Research developed between communities and researchers in Buenaventura, Colombia. The videos accompany the brochure “Buenaventura: Metodologías sentipensantes de resistencia y re-existencia”, the second of two publications on Participatory Action Research (PAR).

They are an output of the project  project “Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned“.

Part 1: El comadreo (the informal chat)

Part 2: La tertulia poética (the poetic gathering)

Part 3: El sociodrama (the sociodrama)

Part 4: El teatro por la vida (the theatre for life)


New brochure and videos on participatory action research (PAR) in Colombia

The team of the project “Community strategies for Unarmed Civilian Protection in South-West Colombia: local experiences and lessons learned“ has published a Volume 2 of its Participaroty Action Research Semillero (Seedbed) titled,

The brochure discusses four PAR methodologies that build on the cultural richness of the Colombian Pacific region and are an expression of the collective cultural, spiritual and artistic values of the Afro-Pacific region, where the production of knowledge bears the emotional and intellectual imprint of knowledge produced through dialogue.

It is accompanied by four videos about the community-based methodologies discussed – the comadreo (informal chat), the tertulia poética (poetic gathering), the sociodrama (sociodrama), and the teatro por la vida (theatre for life) – in which community members talk about their experiences and learnings.


New project report on civilian protection in Uasin Gishu, Kenya

Team members Clinton Gwako and Selline Korir of the project Strengthening Local Capacities for Unarmed Civilian Protection in Uasin Gishu, Kenya have published a new REPORT on their project findings.

The report summarises the research approach and the project’s most important findings regarding civilian protection mechanisms and related challenges in Usain Gishu, and reflects on the contributions to knowledge the project has been able to make.

Report: Strengthening Local Capacities for Unarmed Civilian Protection in Uasin Gishu, Kenya


New article on protective artistic networks in Medellin, Colombia

Team members of the project Art that Protects, phase 2: Networks as strategies for self-protection in the context of urban conflict in the city of Medellín, 2023 have published a new article (in Spanish), under the title “El papel del arte en el conflicto armado urbano en Medellín. David contra Goliat: redes vivas y autoprotección“. It is authored by Beatriz E. Arias López, Laura Jiménez Ospina, and Sandra Benítez Diosa.

The article analyses the scope and dynamics of networking among artistic and cultural initiatives for self-protection in the city of Medellín. It finds that the studied organisations form a non-hierarchical network structure based on political and aesthetic affinities, oriented towards an alternative popular artistic movement. Their links are strengthened through the exchange of knowledge between established and emerging organisations, intergenerational relationships, and collective activities. The authors conclude that these ‘networks of joy’ represent a living movement and symbolise the metaphor of David against Goliath, in which nearly sixty collectives face 380 criminal groups in territories with little state presence. In adverse conditions, these organisations seek to create a cultural, ethical and political alternative for community protection and a cultural counter-offer, especially for the city’s youth.

The open access article can be downloaded HERE.


New article on South Sudan in Peacebuilding journal

The team of the project “Visualising early warning and preparedness in civilian protection“, Chas Morrisson, Haji Elias Hillary, and Diria Vicky Thomas, have published a new article titled “Cultures and practices of local civilian self-protection in South Sudan” in the journal Peacebuilding.

The article explores South Sudanese cultural practices used for civilian self-protection, early warning and conflict preparedness, and their psychological implications. The authors find that cultural practices to avoid, postpone, or negotiate conflict show some ethnic distinctions, tend to be traditional and rely on spiritual or customary authority. While there are secular dimensions, a key aspect of these practices relates to esoteric protection, using defensive curses and sanctifying objects and places. The articles argues that community self-protection practices emerge as a core aspect of cultural life and group identity, with resonance beyond immediate protection and responding to insecurity.

Download the open access article HERE.


New article on Papua in Journal of Peacebuilding & Development

The Creating Safer Space project “Civilian (Self-) Protection from Violent Conflict in Papua” has published the article “Violence and Civilian Strategy for Protection in West Papua, Indonesia“ in the Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. It is authored by Arfiansyah.

The article discusses findings of the project’s qualitative research in Jayapura, Sorong, and Wamena in November 2022 and June 2023. Building on the concept of agency and Joshua Barter’s classification of strategy for civilian protection, it finds that violence and strategies for civilian protection in West Papua are contextualized by local development, geopolitics, and demographic composition between transmigrants and indigenous Papuans, which also determine the agents’ capacity to respond to violence and to build protection strategies. The research contributes the concept of nonpartisan peace voice as a protection strategy. It highlights that a common feature of the protection strategy that the Papuans in the research locations share is the mobilization of both international and local networks.