ROADSHOW – Art and Culture for Peace and Reconciliation in Mozambique

Between September 8 and 9, 2023, the association IVERCA and CISP launched the first Roadshow for peace and social reconciliation in Mozambique, within the framework of the Pro-PAZ – Cultura para Promoção da Paz, Reconciliação e Coesão Social, co-financed by the European Union.

The Roadshow, which marked the beginning of a series of six events that would unfold over the three-year duration of the Pro-PAZ project, featured the active participation of 20 artists and groups hailing from the cities of Maputo, Beira, Chimoio, and Gondola. These artists and groups took center stage, performing in front of an audience of 3,000 spectators, a significant portion of which comprised young and very young people, speaking and addressing the central themes of peace, national unity, reconciliation, and the value of differences and the social and civic commitment of artists.

The first Roadshow exceeded expectations and set an unprecedented standard in the region where it was held. This event attracted a remarkable lineup of artists, such as the rapper Iveth, who were profoundly dedicated to disseminating messages of peace and reconciliation on a national scale.

As part of the Roadshow, a significant meeting centered around the “Role of hip-hop in peacebuilding and social reconciliation in Mozambique” took place. This meeting attracted primarily young participants who were eager to actively contribute to the peacebuilding processes in their country.

During this gathering, there were extensive discussions about how the realms of visual arts and Hip-Hop culture contributed to the conveyance of messages of peace. Additionally, thanks to the invaluable contribution of the Lemusica association, the meeting addressed the challenges faced by women participating in the peace-building process.

Between the end of August and the beginning of September, an engaging Murals and Graffiti - Art for Peaceworkshop took place. This workshop featured the active participation of 10 young local artists, under the leadership of Shot-B, an artist from Maputo. Together, they embarked on the creation of a lengthy mural in the town of Gondola. This mural was designed to convey messages of peace and reconciliation to the community. The creation of this mural was a collaborative effort that involved the active participation of many residents of the city over the course of three days (see the video below).

The Roadshow was a comprehensive and multifaceted event that seamlessly combined various forms of artistic expression, such as music, dance, and visual art, with a range of other initiatives. These initiatives included a local craft and gastronomy fair, as well as a citizen services fair that addressed critical needs within the community, providing, in collaboration with the municipality, services like the issuance of identity cards, birth certificates, and legal and health assistance.

CISP firmly believes in the potential of Arts and Culture to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, tolerance and respect between people. Art and culture can be supported to promote inclusion and social cohesion, peace and the protection of vulnerable people and, at the same time, as a means of promoting economic development and the creation of decent jobs.