World Social Forum: Artists Roundtable

At the 2011 World Social Forum, TrustAfrica, Magamba Cultural Activist Network and Africulturban are jointly organizing a roundtable on how artists are using art for civic engagement and what role foundations can play in supporting such initiatives. The artists will share their knowledge and specific experiences of grassroots activism with the audience. The discussion will give the cultural activists from different countries the ability to educate each other on innovative methodologies, while enlightening foundations and partners about how to support such noble endeavors. The roundtable will explore questions such as: how do artists amplify their voices in such a way that they become central in development, democracy, and governance? How do we measure ‘artistic impact’ for development, democracy, and governance? What is the role of an entity such as TrustAfrica in assisting artists and artistic institutions?

Panelists

Farai Monro, aka Comrade Fatso of Magamba Network, who has a wealth of experience in cultural activism in Zimbabwe and is also a protest poet whose poetry is studied in universities across the world despite being banned in his own country for being ‘too political.’

Amadou Fall Ba, of the Dakar-based cultural activist group Africulturban. He will share his knowledge on his group’s pioneering work in the banlieues of Dakar.

Fatou Kande Senghor, film maker and director.

Abdoullaye Niang, sociologist, will reveal the figures and hard facts of how culture contributes to development and democracy.

The roundtable will be facilitated by Massamba Gueye, professor, writer and taleteller from Senegal.