From Benin to Abeokuta, from community halls to stages in Lagos, Artvocacy Movement has been loudly strengthening its voice and expanding its reach.
In Benin, courtesy visits opened doors to partnerships, including collaboration with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs. From there, the artvocates stepped into community spaces at the Home for the Needy Foundation IDP Camp, where children and families were given donations, with dance, music, and spoken word. Through open mics, community meetings and the ARTvocacy Festival in December, Benin’s creative energy gathered momentum. The festival, themed “Fire Starters”, brought together artists, advocates and policymakers, showcasing performances, film, dialogue and exhibitions into a powerful statement: art is not decoration, it is power.
In Abeokuta, our creatives had a space to remember why Artvocacy mattered to them. It was a space to reset, reconnect, and agree on their creativity to make the community feel alive. Artvocates showed up consistently, learning how to perform and work together. Somewhere in all of this, a shared thought kept returning: we can do more than small gatherings. September gave that thought a shape and everyone began working towards one moment—BRAVE HEARTS. The Artvocacy Festival in Abeokuta brought together young creatives who sang, danced, spoke, performed, painted and told their stories without fear.
In Lagos, conversations on politics and youth participation gave a space for critical thinking through the Think Lab event. Two major bootcamps in FESTAC and Gbagada trained young Artvocates to confront the exploitation of child domestic workers through theatre, music, writing and performance. Storytelling went beyond rehearsal rooms into a 13-episode radio drama and powerful stage productions.
Across all three states, it was clear that Artvocacy has moved from being an idea to a growing movement rooted in community and driven by the belief that art can change narratives.
