Something remarkable is taking root across Nigeria, city by city, voice by voice. What began as a response to the pain of Nigerians in 2020 gave voice to silenced youths and has grown into a movement. ARTvocacy is Street Project Foundation’s civic action for social justice, activated in seven cities. And the newest chapters—Abeokuta, Awka, and Benin—are rewriting what it means to be young, creative, and politically awake.

The ancient city of Abeokuta had 33 young performers take Edwins Hall in a laudable performance, themed ILU GANGAN: A Story of Two Sides. Through dance, theatre, and spoken word, they performed the painful truths of police brutality. This performance was more than theatre; it was an expression of the cry of those living in a broken system and a call for reforms. The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Adelola Matemilola, didn’t just receive the ARTvocates at his palace when they paid a visit; he also attended the showcase, giving the movement the stamp of a royal blessing. From palace visits to orphanage outreach, Abeokuta didn’t just host a programme; it lit a fire of reawakening.

Then came Awka, and the city was ART-vocated. On April 6, 26 newly trained Artvocates had a treasure trove of theatre, film, spoken word, and visual art in one. The stage play, “Mad Thoughts,” tackled insecurity, police brutality, and corruption, reflecting the emotional toll these issues take on the youths of Anambra State. The performance gripped the room with a rawness that didn’t stop at applause. From forging partnerships with the Anambra Broadcasting Service to a collaboration with Mila Cinema, Awka’s Artvocates turned storytelling into social capital.

And then there’s Benin, where justice took the stage, the screen, and the streets. Their performance, Mother of Justice, wasn’t just provocative; it was a plea for change. A visual artwork depicting Lady Justice with open eyes, a moneybag in hand, and a crooked scale was taken down from the Benin campus without warning, ironically proving its point of injustice. What was meant to silence the artist only ignited his voice, and the fire in him found its way to the ARTvocacy movement. The Artvocates turned the controversy into fuel, which led to a performance and short film that held nothing back on the subject. Benin Artvocates didn’t whisper justice; they screamed it.
When young people are given the space to speak and the tools to create, they gain the courage to confront the systems that try to silence them. From Ogun to Anambra to Edo, ARTvocacy is not just a programme; it’s a national reawakening of socially conscious youths. And this is just the beginning.