Community-based Arts, Research and Activism in Uganda

Jane Plastow is Professor of African Theatre at Leeds University, UK, and for 10 years was director of Leeds University Centre for African Studies. She has worked as an academic, trainer, researcher, director and theatre maker in Africa for 40 years. In 2020 and 2021 she published the 2-volume A History of Theatre in East Africa.Katie McQuaid is Associate Professor in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds, UK. An anthropologist with expertise on climate change, gender and sexuality, ageing and intergenerationality, and forced displacement in informal urban settings, she was awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship in 2019 to lead the GENERATE Project on: 'Gender, Generation and Climate Change: Creative Approaches to Building Inclusive and Climate Resilient Cities in Uganda and Indonesia’.

• List of ContributorsList of FiguresTimelineIntroduction : Anatomy of an Arts-Led, Action Research Collaboration: Seven years of Work and Play in Walukuba/Masese, Jinja City, Uganda - Katie McQuaid and Jane Plastow (both University of Leeds, UK)Positioning our Work in Relation to Contemporary Applied Arts Theory and Practice - Katie McQuaid and Jane Plastow (both University of Leeds, UK)Part 1. We Are Walukuba: Adult PerspectivesPart 1: Overview - Jane Plastow (University of Leeds, UK)1. Community Voices: We Are Walukuba2. Precious Women: A Play for Five Women from Walukuba - Jane Plastow (University of Leeds, UK)3. Going Behind the Lens: Finding Power and Self in ‘Mid-life’ - Katie McQuaid (University of Leeds, UK)4. Making Theatre of the Oppressed with We Are Walukuba - Jane Plastow interviews Sima Ganguly5. A Footprint in the Flour: The Training of a Group of Community Multipliers in Domasi Village, Zomba district, Malawi - Ali Campbell (Queen Mary, University of London, UK) and Zindaba Chisiza (University of Malawi)6. The Kingfisher’s Story: A Play - Jane Plastow with Commentary by Katie McQuaid7. Approaches to Teaching Film-Making in Malawi and Uganda -Tina Tschismarov (Documentary Filmmaker and TV Freelancer) and Matylda Wierietielny (Video Content Creator, Poland)8. Becoming a Community Film-Maker - Brenda Mawerere9. In Conversation with Geoffrey Muzito, May 2016 - Katie McQuaid interviews Geoffrey Muzito10. White Saviour or Community Collaborator? Meditations on Being a White Academic Working in Walukuba - Jane Plastow (University of Leeds, UK)In the Middle11. Photo Essay: Living We are Walukuba: Seven Years of Community Engagement - Katie McQuaid (University of Leeds, UK)Part 2. Working with Young People in Walukuba/MasesePart 2: Overview12. Me in Your Tea Cup - Robinah Kobuzare (Arts Applied Uganda)13. Shower Us With Love: Poem - Girls’ Group, We Are Walukuba14. The Boy Child’s Dream - Kainerugaba Rwakatembeeka Kamusyo (Actor, Writer, Director, Omwevugi (Oral Poet) and Martial Artist, Uganda)15. On Friendship - Youth Voices from Walukuba/Masese16. Memories of You - Edmond Othieno (Arts Applied Uganda)17. Girls Have Powers: Poem - Girls from Walukuba West Primary School18. Two Artworks by Young People Showing the Learning from Teaching on Sexual and Reproductive Health they Wished to Share with their Peers - From the first Multi-Arts Workshop, December 201819. Waiswa’s Story - Vicki Kyobotungi interviews Waiswa Mawanda20. On Sharing New Knowledge - Youth Voices from Walukuba/Masese21. On Self-Esteem and Equality - Youth Voices from Walukuba/Masese22. Mythical Decisions - Juliet Nantambi (Arts Applied Uganda)23. Alone in the Darkness: Poem - Girls at 2019 Mutli-Arts Youth Camp24. Namutovo’s Story - Vicki Kyobotungi, interviews Namutovo25. I Will Marry After Finishing School: Artwork - Amos from the 2019 Multi-Arts Youth Camp26. Charity Begins at Home: Questioning the Relationship-Gap between Guardians/Parents and their Children - Vicent Sekasanvu (Arts Applied Uganda)27. An Examination of Change and Empowerment From the Perspective of Facilitators working on the Research/Knowledge Exchange Project on Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health (SHR) amongst Adolescents in Jinja - Lillian Mbabazi (Makerere University and Arts Applied Uganda)28. On Working Through Arts - Youth Voices from Walukuba/Masese29. Reflections on Co-designing Creative Graphics with Children in Jinja, Uganda: Advice from the Field - Raymond Nsereko (Makerere University and Arts Applied Uganda)30. My Experience of the Project ‘Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Education Among Adolescents through Creative and Youth-led Practice in Uganda - Shem Mutala (Public Health Officer, Uganda)31. Stay Safe: Artwork - The 2019 Multi-Arts Youth Camp32. The We Are Walukuba Anthem - Derick IsabiryeIndex

This ground-breaking study of the long-term effects of an arts-based intervention into a Ugandan town is an essential read for anyone embarking on a project that aims to use arts processes with marginalized and vulnerable communities. The voices of the participants ring loud and clear through these pages as testimony to human spirit’s refusal to be crushed by poverty and injustice.