Art Helps Solve Social Problems
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Loading... - Diane Ababio
- 23 Dec 2024
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Maroua, the capital of the Far North region of Cameroon, is grappling with significant social challenges, including poor road conditions, frequent power outages, and limited access to clean water. Residents express their frustrations, highlighting the dangers posed by inadequate street lighting and the dilapidated state of the roads. Aboubakar Sali, a local resident, notes, "We have a problem; here is the road, but there are no street lights, and because of that, we are victims of attacks." Another resident, Dourlay Yves, adds, "We have no light, no electricity, no water. We have daily water cuts. Look at the road yourself; we are here on the main axis, but it's bad with potholes, we have flat tires and so on."
In response to these pressing issues, a group of artists has come together under the initiative known as "Vision." This project aims to engage with the community's challenges through art, using drawings and exhibitions to propose solutions related to access to water, electricity, and education. This approach marks a shift for the artistic community, moving from abstract expressions to tangible involvement in real-world problems.
"The Vision project starts from a specific observation beyond the intention of Moustapha to give dynamism or to imagine activities that his space will create; it is precisely to prompt the artists to think about how the work of art itself can help, like many other disciplines, to solve social problems," explains Yves Xavier Ndounda Ndongo, an artist and curator involved in the initiative.
Led by Moustapha Baidi Oumarou, a dozen artists have collaborated to create a series of works that will be exhibited in Maroua for a week. While the exhibition serves as a platform for showcasing their art, the project also aims to implement its designs in 2023, ultimately helping the local population gain access to essential services. Through this innovative approach, the artists hope to inspire change and contribute to addressing the social issues facing their community.
