Hello and welcome from dw is Global Media Forum in bond. My name is karen homestead, as foundations are being shaken all over the globe. D. W. Culture has chosen to look to sub Saharan Africa where the creative scene is positively booming and attracting, increasing international attention. But this incredible wealth of artistry is too often under cut by a lack of funding, lack of infrastructure, conflict, or even oppressive political regions. Which means that artists have some very tough decisions to make to state, or to go to what extent can Creative Industries foster change and development in their home countries and how can they have maximum impact on weve gathered a group of creatives from africa and the African Diaspora to discuss these questions. And these are my guests, roberts cag lannie center. More better known by his stage named bobby y is singer musician, activist and politician from uganda, leader of the National Unity platform party, former opposition and p, and president ial candidate. And he says that politics is simply too serious a business to leave it to the politicians. Welcome bobby, and thank you for being with a delegate. Plan o is a writer, opinion columnist and a pharmacist from selves done in march. She fled sudan to germany with the help of the german pen, and she says that art is a living thing. It cant bro, in dark rooms and needs space to be freely expressed, accepted, and supported. Thank you for being a. On my left is also a hyundai, a somebody whos a photographer from cameron, who lives and works in amsterdam with over 200 exhibitions in more than 100 countries. She is one of the most accomplished african photographers of her generation. Africa is her greatest inspiration. And as she believes, a continent with matchless opportunities and where everything is possible, welcome all day. And last, but not least, over here on my ride, eke enable way is an Award Winning director and cultural entrepreneur from lagos in nigeria. Hes now considered one of the champions of the emerging emerging new african cinema and normally would veteran. But his documentary, no, you turn just about a special mention award at the the belly nala Berlins International Film Festival in, in early this year. And he says that there is a relationship between migration and the types of films that weve promoted in the past. When a forward to your insights enable have, or malcolm, we can, id like to start with you because over 20 years ago you set out to leave nigeria to make your fortune in europe, but you ended up aborting the journey. So just tell us, what was it that made you decide to leave . I had just finished my apprenticeship and in which i served my master for 7 years. And normally after you finish your apprenticeship, youre supposed to be given seed money so that you can start your own business. And sometimes it doesnt work out like that. And i just happened to be one of those ones that didnt work out. And i was just about to turn 20 and had nothing. And the reason why i even studied into the apprenticeship was so that i can make something out of myself. So i can help my mother and my siblings, cuz i lost my dad when i was to. And then i heard that it was possible to travel to europe by route, and with little or no money. That experience inspired your very 1st documentary film to very personal film that really manifests our central question to stay or to go. Ah, 26 years ago. I came to this mile to boast, park in boston, there goes along with my friends. Our goal was to close the strip of gibraltar and make our fortunes in europe. In no u turn, he came a boy, we traces his own path to europe. On his journey, he meets people who just as he once did, are trying to leave africa. But get stranded in Different Countries along the way. They survive by working on jobs and restaurants, or st vendors, new brands. With a film about hope, disappointment, and be enduring dream of europe became a boy, has also made feature films and offers his expertise to aspiring young directors. Hes also part of a support network for african filmmakers. I know you turn his 1st documentary deals with an issue that still very well event today wanting to so many young nigerians embark on such a perilous journey. Ah, ah, what did you learn about young peoples motivations to day to go and make and take on that journey . Where sadly, 27 years after is still the same motivations, maam, is to basically about economics around its still very clear about people and seeking for self actualization. Its about looking for a place under the sun where you can actually dream. And its so sad that young people in africa, especially west africa, do not feel that theres enough space for them to dream in their home countries. And so thats what i found in the film, and its really very sad. Im going to go over to you, stella gaetano. He recently came to germany. Tell us, why did you have to face with them as people know sedan nan till 1011 . Its like a splitter. 2 countries. And i was nice and then i become a south. So dennis, i couldnt find myself in flower or in north i still want to be as a sudan if we supposed to unite not to is lit again, 2 pieces off of come to this and, and that was my idea. And i think people not accepted that into student, like i couldnt express myself well, and i supposed to keep silence for a long time. So to understand this very complex situation, political situation thats della gaetano has just described a there with its neighbor, with south sudan with its neighbor to the north sudan. Lets have a quick look at this more. The republic of the sudan is africas 3rd largest country. Its capital is cartoon since independence in 1956, the country has mostly been under military rule due to Armed Conflicts between the government and rebels, sectarian and ethnic violence. Many millions have fled. Recurring droughts lead to crop failures. Almost half the population lives below the poverty line. The desolate political and Economic Situation sparked protest in 2019 o mar alba, she or was ousted after 30 years of authoritarian rule. Sharia law was abolished and women were briefly granted more rights. A glimpse of freedom also for journalists and creatives who were hopeful that a civilian government and reforms might be established. But this phase of democratization didnt last for long. A military coup took place in 22. He won. Since then, protests for freedom and human rights have taken place nearly every day. The republic of south sudan is the worlds youngest sovereign states. It achieved independence from sudan in 2011 after years of struggle. 99 percent of the population supported independence in a referendum, but their joy was short lived. The country is divided due to numerous ethnic conflicts. Millions are seeking refuge internally and outside of south sudan, awe disastrous flooding had led to crop failures. More and more people are becoming dependent on food aid. South sudan is one of the worlds poorest countries. It lacks state institutions, especially in the medical and educational sectors. The government has repeatedly been accused of human rights violations, censorship and corruption. Today its widely regarded as a failed state. Now some 4000000 people fled the civil war in south sudan, approximately one will 1000000 of them actually found refuge in neighboring uganda and that is of course, the home of our next distinguished guest. They call him the ghetto president robert tagline. We sent him with better known as the musician bobby whine, born in 1982. His lyrics about freedom and Self Determination have made him the voice of uganda as youth, almost 80 percent of the population is under 30. In 2017 bobby wine became involved in politics. He opposed to president you very much 70 and his government who arrest torture or make their political opponents disappear. Bobby wine himself was brutally attacked multiple times and arrested. Nevertheless, he ran for president in 2021. His campaign, burdened by cope at 19 rules was targeted with arrests attacks and violence despite accusations of election rigging. You very much sodomy who has ruled the country for over 35 years won the election yet again. A but bobby wine wont give up. He continues to be politically engaged and uses his music to fight against social injustices, corruption and abuse of power with bobby whine, the nigerian african pioneer, an active estrella, cootie one said music is the weapon of the future. And yet, you decided at some point in 2017, the music wasnt quite enough. What was the Tipping Point . That made you decide to go into politics . After bad experience . About 10 or 15 years ago, i decided that my music was no longer going to be entertainment, but edutainment because much as that he had benefited me. It had to benefit those with whom i shared the plate. They get people where come from. So i got involved in the politics because i had been talking about the issue, so for so long and i thought it was about time to act about them and also lead by example, protest of any kind, obviously very dangerous work. In uganda, you suffered incredible violence in your president ial campaign. Lots of intimidation politics. He replaced under house arrest after the election. What is your situation now and the situation for artists like yourself . The situation continues to be terrible. Uganda continues to be and that the tight military group of general jo, it was 77. 00 who took power when i was only 4. Yes. And now im 40 and theres no sign that there will be change. Or we dont only one change for the sick of it, but want to return power to the people. Thats why they call us their people power movement. And we say people power is our power will want it situation in uganda like it is in order developed countries where lead as a severance of the people and the people and the 2 monsters where lead as fear to do things that will press the people because the people will keep them out, so that is their whole agenda. Their next guest uses visual language to transform ideas of identity of african women. Im say, a 20 a samba, and we can possibly take a little look at her work here. Is based in the netherlands and currently showing at the venice the anomaly in the camera. Ronan pavilion. Shes particularly known for her black and white work. Your work has been exhibited all over the world. Its recently even been included in the Permanent Collection of the mama in new york. So congratulations on that. Im. Im just interested because you have very much a pan african focus as opposed to a focus on your own particular culture. Is that deliberate . Jest soon as soon as jeff, he can new of course, because im african oclock. But also because i believe that for me the fact of having left very early the distance brought me even closer to my continent to mother of a glendale. And that made it well, photography allowed me to reconnect with africa. Who, while ela fulton asked him up there me off the telegraphy also allowed me to reconnect with myself with the washing maybe not as a 100 percent african, but as a woman of the world who lives us home. You know, i dont like to say between 2 worlds, but really rather with one foot in africa, one foot in the west, my mom and he on their feet and piano to see them. Youre having a particularly interesting year this year, the be and i live in venice is a 1st for cameroon. This year 8 sub saharan countries are actually represented. Can you tell me about the significance of, of this for cameroon . I and your thoughts on the african presence in venice . Allergy in that of him is so. So the venice be and i lay money. Imagine that its one of the biggest art events. Its been going on since 1895. 00 on now. Were at the 59th edition, and this is the very 1st time that cameron takes part with its own pavilion example. So its historic that you still, he see story her. And i think as bobby was saying earlier, its not so much about me as an artist, but its one country, its one continent and other artist se, se accounting us the dog possesses is dorothea sat down and that allows others to dream of ear. And we hope that with this kind of participation in this addition of the bus, you know, as you can see that out of 54 countries, only 8 african countries are participating the link really . Yeah. For the count yogi paths to see me. But it doesnt matter. What i think it gives dreams, so it allows people to believe, man, the yellow, thin to lafayette. Moreover, the seam of the camera, loony and pavilion. The time of came mirrors is very significant because it means that everything is possible and that applicable count from now on his own may r county africa count sir most definitely there. Possibly even a little bit behind the times as youre indicating bobby back over to you. Because uganda is also making its debut in venice this year. Im sure governments to a certain degree are finally realizing what an important platform that can be your thoughts on, on the role of arts and artists for social change, artifact the mirrors of severity, the other reflections of whats happening so sad to both, ah, vocally and visually so we are this fox people of society, but in the same way we can be the chief me through present us of the fair to. Im glad you mentioned that. Recently, governments are noticing the power of art, and particularly in uganda is a very big budget that is put aside to compromise artes and have them meet, represent the voice of society. And you can blame that to the rise of artists like myself. I am now these 3 are, that may be sooner or later. Another artist is gonna pop up and do this, him or even more. So the power of art has been realised. Stella, your thoughts asked is soft power and it is flowing on me slowly and its making change all the time. And thats why they are have that feel from the culture and from there are because its change minds of people. Its read awareness and aware leadership and our dictate that she dont like people to make bad grades up of their of that a when a song may be too resistant. Then we do have another special guest in the audience at who is no stranger to our Global Media Forum. And id like to go over and see him now being and gets his thoughts. Id like you to give a warm round of applause and welcome to akin body. I can be one of the applicants, best known photographer. Born in od with nigerian rule, its a self professed wandering ambassador between cultures and here he is next to me akin body. Its so nice to see you again. Thank you for joining us here in von. You exhibit all over the world, your works travel widely, but so do you yourself, you cheats you to re, to widely what are the dreams and aspirations of Young Artists that you encounter around the world in your classes . What, how and how you try to inspire them. They want to achieve and am we, we, there are the mentors. The teachers are the facilitators. We really try to encourage them. Um its, its, its for many of a very tougher, especially as a creative person, a young person. You, i mean, you earn very little, but we really encourage them. Most of the people that youre talking about, for instance, if youve got some, some people in your mind are they, are they hoping to make it at home, most human being still where they were born and or, or their region in their car on their continent. And this is better than why the case um and um, she wont be in the like plants and so we have roots so, so as a router, very much a where you are born or where you go up. So we grow up and then up again, and now its much, much easier, especially the digital age or social media a lot. So you can really do your Research Well of survey important to be bay grounded and then up you grow your so often in places like by macro la garza air cigale sch, can you tell me, do you see positive developments there in terms of the actual i do infrastructure and support for odds on location. Um i do see um for the future um things to to, to encourage um, younger artists in some countries is much less. Yeah. Other countries is more, why dont you have an a huge continent. Yeah. Weve had been coming before, so um i was just last year in november in compiler, in bobby wayne though. Oh, oh town. And they, you notice that is, the encouragement is not very, very strong. Especially for those who really want to be creative and a critical of what is happening on the ground. Exactly. But um its, its, its growing, is it cost of growing or is it pushed up or all the time and trying to yeah, to move forward and upwards as well. One thing i must say is the music scene is very, very dynamic and vital all over the continent. So where w really very well done much. Thank you very much for those insights. I can, i can and, and ive gotten line paula living in exile here in germany. I know that your activism is even more urgent. So before we actually just get your opinion on that and how social media might be helping you, lets have a quick look at what youre doing. Still, gaetano started writing in elementary school. She writes about war fleeing being displaced, but also about hope and Great Expectations for her home. Stella has been fighting for freedom and democracy in sudan and south sudan for many years. Ah, with other like minded people, she founded initiatives to support the lives of displaced persons and victims of violence with food donations but also with the book donations. When she fled car to men early 2020, to stella herself. Donated around 700. 00 books. The sudanese capital was no longer safe. She had been threatened and arrested multiple times through the writers in exile Scholarship Program by the Writers Association pen. She has been living in common a little town in north rine westphalia since march. But her children are still with her ex husband in sudan. She hopes that she can sing be reunited with her 3 boys in germany. I think every mother here in the audience is feeling with you right now. See how tough is yet to ration for you in excel as a mother, but also as an artist, to who has this ever intensifying in her call to change things. I, you mandate i and make my children and also already that im a mother in risk. So any time, any think what happened to me so you so foster depend on yourself and that met me is strong and met them also is strong. So now we am yes. Going in very tough situation. They even encouraged you like to get out why and they encouraged me, mom dont think about us to be, well be okay. So you can go and be said somewhere. And also, well, what im really lost now its my where we speak or, and that a ground a was an active, this being that it all on the ground and helping people have that initiative. So because im thinking that we supposed to break this chain somewhere to help bob