In almost every part of the world, there exists the common theme of self-seeking ambitions among a country’s leadership, and this problem varies from one region to another. This theme is rife in many African countries, resulting in widespread injustices. Poor governance, lack of democracy, and human rights violations are common. Many have suffered as a result.

But today, the youth are more aware than ever, and they have had enough. Among them are a group of young activists in Kenya fighting to entrench activism into the country’s identity – and they go by the name of PAWA254.

Art Rising

By employing the slogan ‘Art Rising’, PAWA254 effectively summarises its mission: An uprising of artists aware of societal injustices and using their gifts to combat the vices of this country.

The rise of PAWA254 coincided with that of the government that took charge seven years ago. Perhaps it is a silver lining that the incompetence of the country’s leadership placed a sense of purpose upon the founder of the organization.

Given its courageous approach to ‘fighting the system’, it is therefore no surprise to learn that PAWA’s founder is a man who splits public opinion in the country like no other: award-winning former journalist turned activist, Boniface Mwangi.

Boniface has never shied away from speaking the truth and fighting those who suppress it. He has consistently stated that his purpose was to join in the fight against the system that propagated poverty. And he has not looked back since. His main instrument of action was a space he founded for artists to cultivate their skills, become more aware of their vision, and align it with a mission. It is this initiative that led to the formation of PAWA.

What PAWA254 Does in Kenya

PAWA contains plenty of facilities and regularly hosted several events up until the onset of COVID-19. The facilities include an art space, a boardroom, a theatre, and a library. Some of the thematic events include PAWA Café, Open Fridays, and Literary Thursdays. These events were regular, and they:

would seek to popularise and entrench artivism as avenues through which the youth can use their skills to transform society.

The significance of PAWA cannot be underestimated. The space’s commitment to its mission has been so singular that it has birthed a generation of young activists. It has given credence to the growing belief that activism is not a path or career on its own, but a mission that can co-exist with one’s respective vocation. And in many corners of the country today, young people are now carrying out their respective missions of activism while going about their daily jobs; there is a growing intolerance to injustices by the leadership and government to its citizens, and this uprising has been strengthened by PAWA’s commitment to artivism.

Artivism

Artivism combines art and activism to produce change. PAWA has always been about artivism and has never deviated from this mission. This has led to projects ranging from conventional to highly controversial. Perhaps their boldest statement came in the form of ‘Diaper Mentality‘. This was a visual project that was so stunning that it sparked fierce debate in all corners of the country. This project wandered onto the furthest boundaries of free speech, of which PAWA feared not.

This project echoed the sentiments of all Kenyans, who have been left frustrated by a regime that promised the world to its citizens but delivered on none of its promises. However, it also pointed to something more positive. By employing satire to mirror the thoughts of many citizens, the tone of this project is a microcosm of the overall sentiment of the country:

whatever it is we may be going through, it will not stop us from laughing and from appreciating the art that is on offer in our country.

This is the reason why artivism is so important for us, and why the landscape for it could potentially be much bigger than it already is.

The causes that PAWA254 fights for are things that affect each and every citizen of Kenya. Human rights, democracy, and governance are intrinsic to the way we live as human beings. And this warrants the need for similar spaces.

The fact that PAWA254 has become a leader in this regard has set its legacy in stone. For them, however, this is not the end; with all the work that needs to be done to better the country, they are just getting started.