Hello and welcome from d. W is Global Media Forum in bond. My name is karen homestead, as foundations are being shaken all over the globe. D w culture as chosen to look to sub saharan africa, where the creative scene is positively booming and attracting, increasing international attention. But this incredible wealth of artistry is too often under cut by a lack of funding, lack of infrastructure, conflict, or even oppressive political regions. Which means that artists have some very tough decisions to make, to stay or to go. To what extent can Creative Industries foster change and development in their home countries and how can they have maximum impact . Or weve gathered a group of creatives from africa and the African Diaspora to discuss these questions. And these are my guests. Roberts, chicago, lanny sent ta more better known by his stage named bobby. Why is singer musician, activist and politician from uganda, leader of the National Unity platform party, former opposition and p, and president ial candidate. And he says that politics is simply too serious a business to leave it to the politicians. Welcome bobby, and thank you for being with us. Delegate plan o is a writer, opinion columnist and a pharmacist from south done in march. She fled sudan to germany with the help of the german pen. And she says that art is a living thing. It cant grow in dark rooms and needs space to be freely expressed, accepted, and supported. Thank you for being on my left is also a hyundai, a somebodys, hes a photographer from cameroon, who lives and works in amsterdam with over 200 exhibitions in more than 100 countries. Shes one of the most accomplished african photographers of her generation. Africa is her greatest inspiration, and as she believes, a continent with matchless opportunities and where everything is possible. Welcome all day. And last, but not least, over here on my ride egan. A boy is an Award Winning director and cultural entrepreneur from lagos in nigeria. Hes now considered one of the champions of the emerging emerging new african cinema and normally would veteran. But his documentary, no, you turn just got a special mention award at the belly nala Berlins International Film Festival in, in early this year. And he says that there is a relationship between migration and the types of films that weve promoted in the past. One of forward to your insights enable have a warm welcome weekend. Id like to start with you because over 20 years ago you set out to leave nigeria to make your fortune in europe, but you ended up aborting the journey. So just tell us what was it that made you decide to leave . I had just finished my apprenticeship in which i served my master for 7 years. And normally after you finish your apprenticeship, youre supposed to be given seed money so that you can start your own business and sometimes who doesnt work out like that. And i just happened to be one of those ones that didnt work out. And i was just about to turn 20 and had not been. And the reason why i even started into the apprenticeship was so that i can make something out of myself. So i can help my mother and my siblings, cause i lost my dad when i was to. And then i heard that it was possible to travel to europe by route, and with little or no money. That experience inspired your very 1st documentary film to very personal film that really manifests our central question to stay or to go. Ah, 26 years ago. I came to these morale to boast, park in bustling there, goes along with my friends. Our goal was to cross this trip of gibraltar and make our fortunes in europe in no, you turn. He came, may boy retraces his own path to europe. On his journey, he meets people who just as he once did while trying to leave africa. But get stranded in Different Countries along the way. They survived by working on jobs and restaurants, or st vendors. You brand a film about hope, disappointment, and be enduring dream of europe became a boy, has also made feature films and offers his expertise to aspiring young directors. Hes also part of a support network for african filmmakers. I know you turn his 1st documentary deals with an issue that still very well event today wanting to so many young nigerians embark on such a perilous journey. Ah, ah, what did you learn about young peoples motivations to day, to go and make and take on that journey . Where sadly, 27 years after is still the same motivations is to basically about economics around its to be as clear about people and seeking for self actualization. Its about looking for a place under the sun where you can actually dream. And its so sad that young people in africa, especially west africa, do not feel that theres enough space for them to dream in their home countries. And so thats what i found in the film, and its really very sharp. And im going to go over to you still at gaetano. He recently came to germany, tell us, why did you have to fleece with them as people normally would . And then 2011. Its like a split the 2 countries. And i was a nice and then i become a south to dennis. I couldnt find myself in flower or in north. I still want to be as a sudan if we supposed to unite not to is lit again, 2 pieces off of come to this and, and that was my idea. And i think people not accepted that into sudan like i couldnt express myself. Well, am i supposed to keep silence for a long time . So to understand this very complex situation, political situation thats della gaetano has just described a there with its neighbor, with south sudan with its neighbor to the north sudan. Lets have a quick look at this more. The republic of the sudan is africas 3rd largest country. Its capital is cartoon since independence in 1956. The country has mostly been under military rule due to Armed Conflicts between the government and rebels, sectarian and ethnic violence. Many millions have fled. Recurring droughts lead to crop failures. Almost half the population lives below the poverty line. The desolate political and Economic Situation sparked protest in 2019 o mar alba. Sheer was ousted after 30 years of authoritarian rule. Charee a law was abolished, and women were briefly granted more rights a glimpse of freedom. So for journalists and creatives who were hopeful that a civilian government and reforms might be established. But this phase of democratization didnt last for long. A military coup took place in 2021. Since then, protests for freedom and human rights have taken place nearly every day. The republic of south sudan is the worlds youngest sovereign state. It achieved independence from sudan in 2011 after years of struggle. 99 percent of the population supported independence in a referendum, but their joy was short lived. The country is divided to you to numerous ethnic conflicts. Millions are seeking refuge internally and outside of south sudan. Ah, disastrous flooding. Had led to crop failures. More and more people are becoming dependent on food aid. South sudan is one of the worlds poorest countries. It lacks state institutions, especially in the medical and educational sectors. The government has repeatedly been accused of human rights violations, censorship and corruption. Today its widely regarded as a failed state. Now some 4000000 people fled the civil war in south sudan, approximately one will 1000000 of them actually found refuge in neighboring uganda and that is of course, the home of our next distinguished guest. They call him the ghetto president. Robert ta glenmarie sent him with better known as the musician bobby whine. Born in 1982, his lyrics about freedom and Self Determination have made him the voice of uganda as youth, almost 80 percent of the population is under 30. In 2017 bobby wine became involved in politics. He opposed to president you very much 70 and his government who arrest torture or make their political opponents disappear. Bobby wine himself was brutally attacked multiple times and arrested. Nevertheless, he ran for president in 2021. His campaign burdened by coven 19 rules was targeted with arrests attacks and violence. Despite accusations of election rigging, you very move 70 who has ruled the country for over 35 years, one the election yet again. A but bobby wine wont give up. He continues to be politically engaged and uses his music to fight against social injustices, corruption and abuse of power. Done a good thing to bobby whine, the nigerian African Pioneer and active estrella, cootie one said music is the weapon of the future. And yet, you decided at some point in 2017, that music wasnt quite enough. What was the Tipping Point that made you decide to go into politics . After bad experience . About 10 or 15 years ago, i decided that my music was no longer going to be entertainment by edutainment because my chest that he, if id benefited me, he taught to benefit those with whom i shared that bright. They get people where come from. So i got involved in politics because i had been talking about that you so so for so long and i thought it was about time to act about them and also lead by example, protests of any kind, obviously very dangerous work. In uganda, you suffered incredible violence in your president ial campaign. Lots of intimidation politics. He replaced under house arrest after the election. What is your situation now and the situation for artists like yourself . The situation continues to be terrible. Uganda continues to be and that the Type Military group of general jo it in was 77. 00 are who took power when i was only for yes and now im 40 and theres no sign that there will be change. We dont only one change for the sick of it, but want to return power to the people that way. The callers, their People Power Movement and receive people. Power is our power will want to situation in uganda. Equities in all developed countries where lead as a severance of the people and their people and the 2 monsters where need as fear to do things that will press the people because the people will keep them out. So that is the whole agenda. And our next guest uses visual language to transform ideas of identity of african women. Im say its wendy a samba, and we can possibly take a little look at her work here is based in the netherlands. And currently showing at the venice be anomaly in the camera union pavilion. Shes particularly known for her black and white work. Your work has been exhibited all over the world. Its recently even been included in the Permanent Collection of the moment in new york. So congratulations on vance. Im. Im just interested because you have very much a pan african focus as opposed to a focus on your own particular culture. Is that deliberate . Jesse must, yes, he can new, of course, because im african oclock. But also because i believe that for me, the fact of having left very early the distance brought me even closer to my continent to mother earl ave glendale. And that made it well, photography allowed me to reconnect with africa. Who, while ella fulton asked him up there me off the tucker if he also allowed me to reconnect with myself for the last, maybe not as a 100 percent african. But as a woman of the world who lives formula, i dont like to say between 2 worlds. But really rather with one foot in africa, one foot in the west, my mom and he on their feet and piano to see them. Youre having a particularly interesting year this year, the be and i live in venice is a 1st for cameroon. This year 8 sub saharan countries are actually represented. Can you tell me about the significance of, of this for cameroon . I and your thoughts on the african presence in venice . Allergy in narrative in is a so the venus be an ali money . Imagine that its one of the biggest art events. Its been going on since 1895. 00 on now. Were at the 59th edition, and this is the very 1st time that cameroon takes part with its own pavilion example. So its historic that you still, he sees silly cur, and i think as bobby was saying earlier, its not so much about me as an artist, but its one country, its one continent and other artist se, see arkansas, nasty thought, because that is for is darcy earth. That though, and that allows others to dream of ear. And we hope that with this kind of participation in this edition of, you can see that out of 54 countries, only 8 african countries are participating. So if he cant hear you back to see me, but it doesnt matter what i think it gives dreams. It allows people to believe me and the cloth, the yellow thing that i have in. Moreover, the theme of the camera, rooney, and pavilion, the time of cameras is very significant because it means that everything is possible and that africa will count from now on. If i may, i can t africa counts, sir, most definitely there possibly even a little bit behind the times as youre indicating bobby back over to you. Because uganda is also making its debut in venice this year. Im sure governments to a certain degree are finally realizing what an important platform that can be your thoughts on, on the role of art and artists for social change. I prefer the mirrors of severity. We are the reflections of whats happening so sad to both. Ah, vocally and visually so we are this fox people of society, but in the same way we can be the chief me through present us of so fair to im glad you mentioned that. Recently, governments are noticing the power of art, and particularly in uganda is a very big budget that is put aside to compromise artist and have them meet, represent the voice of society. And you can blame that to the rise of artists like myself. I am now these fear that maybe sooner or later another artist is gonna pop up and do the same or even more. So the power of art has been realised. Stella, your thoughts aft is soft power and it is going on me slowly and its making change all the time. And that the way they are to have that field from their culture and from the art because its chain might of be it will, its read awareness and aware leadership and our dictate that she dont like people to make that raise up off their of that a when a song may be too resistant, then we do have another special guest in the audience at who is no stranger to our Global Media Forum. And id like to go over and see him now big and gets his thoughts. Id like you to give a warm round of applause and welcome to akin body acting b. Whatever. I forget, best known photographer born in od with nigerian rule, a self professed wandering ambassador between cultures and here he is next to me akin body. Its so nice to see you again. Thank you for joining us here in von. You exhibit all over the world, your works travel widely, but so do you yourself, you cheats you to re, to widely what are the dreams and aspirations of Young Artists that you encounter around the world in your classes . What, how and how do you try to inspire them they want to achieve . And then we, we, there, the mentors, the teachers are the facilitators. We really try to encourage them. Um its, its, its for many of a very tougher, especially as a creative person, a young person. You, i mean, you earn very little what we really encourage them. Lots of the people that youre talking about. For instance, if youve got some, some people in your mind, are they, are they hoping to make it at home most human being still where they were born or, or their region in their car on their continent or this is betty been much the case and um, she will be there like plants and so we have roots so, so as a router, very much a where you were born or where you grew up. So we grow up and then im again and now is much, much easier, especially in the digital age or social media slot. So you can really do your Research Well so, so very important to be bay grounded and then up, you grow your so often in places like by macro la garza air cigale. Can you tell me, do you see positive developments there in terms of the actual yes, i do infrastructure and support for aught on location. Um i do see um positive um things to to, to encourage um younger artists in some countries is much less. Yeah. Other countries is more, were talking, you have an, a huge continent. Yeah. Weve had been telling before, so um i was just last year in november in compiler, in bobby wayne though. Oh, okay, sounds. And there you notice that the encouragement is not very, very strong, especially for those who really want to be creative and a critical of what is happening on the ground exec. But, um its, its, its growing, is it cost of growing . Its a push a pull all the time and trying to yeah, to, to move forward and upwards as well. One thing i must say is the music scene is very, very dynamic and vital all over the continent. So where w really very well done. Much thank you very much for those insights. I can i can and, and ive gotten blind paula living in exile here in germany. I know that your activism is even more urgent. So before we actually just get your opinion on that and how social media might be helping you, lets have a quick look at what youre doing. Still, gaetano started writing in elementary school. She writes about war fleeing being displaced, but also about hope and Great Expectations for her home. Stella has been fighting for freedom and democracy in sudan and south sudan for many years. Ah, with other like minded people, she founded initiatives to support the lives of displaced persons and victims of violence with food donations but also with book donations. When she fled car to men early 2020, to stella herself, donated around 700 books. The sudanese capital was no longer safe. She had been threatened and arrested multiple times through the writers and exiles Scholarship Program by the Writers Association pen. She has been living in common, a little town in north rhine westphalia, since march. But her children are still with her ex husband in sudan. She hopes that she can sing be reunited with her 3 boys in germany. I think every mother here in the audience is feeling with you right now. See how tough iteration for you in exile as a mother, but also as an artist, to who has this ever intensifying inner call to change things . I you mandate i and make my children also already that are my mother in risk. So any time anything could happen to me. So you so foster depend on yourself and that met me is strong and met them also is strong. So now we am yes. Going in very tough situation. They even encouraged you like to get out why and they encouraged me, mom dont think about us to be, well be okay. So you can go and be said somewhere. And also what im really lost now its my where people and that a ground a was an active, this being that keep all on the ground and helping people have that initiative. So because im thinking that we supposed to break this chain somewhere to help bobby, to become that president we are dreaming about in africa. We supposed to where we have the generation that can help bobby from day dreaming about countries. Its not enough. We have to work and we have to build our self fairness. Then we can build our countries, bobby wian. I know that your family has wished you would do it a number of times. Ive never any thoughts of eating uganda. Yes and no. Yes. And no. Yes, because its the best way to guarantee that house their life. But no, because it would be a betrayal. Betrayal of my sales people in your family, my people and it would not make practical sense at the end of the day. Because the tyrants, that rule of some countries in africa are empowered with national budgets. They can be queued from any part of the wires and kill you on that. Very many stories of this im so other than making it hard for my people, theyd rather kill me for more. My de one make it expensive for my family to carry my body from wherever and take it back home. Thus, you vendors when born and its where im going buried at the end of the day. Finding a way to let people dream in their own country. What has your conclusion been . We young people of africa. We are tired of all of these old narratives about africa. We know what we said. Theres no need to keep running away from the continent. We want to stay in the continent and fight if its not easy. But we know that we can again, the magic of the people we just went to awaken the magic of the people and get this been to dawn all day. Perhaps you could give your feedback or your response to, to what you get. And bobby have just said, said present there. Yes, its very interesting because we are all fighting for the development of our continent for change whether we are here or there. For example, the most important thing is to do it a and above all to do it together on some bobby wine. You got a final, a final message before we i wrap up it as do our act not only for ourselves, but for us. The best way to leave forever is to leave at that address. We can do that. Lets do it. Im gonna be happy. Right. Thanks so much for joining us. Then well see you next time at the global with, [000 00 00;00] with a beginning of the story that moves us and takes us along for the ride. Its all about the perspective culture information. This is the w news. D. W. Made from mines the defender past tele determine what, how to defend an on the suit that effect of the climate change. Climate activist anita sina is fighting to protect her home in kenya. Im not with weapons 3 saplings. Bank onto the wake up call, but opposed to action, which i think thats a little hoping to meet with them with 90 minutes on t w o. D r e a. And the pillar of sticks and society. A symbol of arbitrary rule. Crucial tools in the struggle for justice taxes the right to levy taxes and the obligation to pay them both inherent in the sovereignty of the nation, states had their citizens. But what happens when the power of taxation is undermined . A tax on top of the tax on top of the tax. Thats the school that broke the camels back. Ive been ranching for emma thinking to myself. Whens it all going to come crashing down . Your pain wont pay. Taxation and politics starts october 21st on d w ah, ah ah ah, this is d w news coming to live from berlin, ukraine. Well meet with g 7 countries today to discuss the response to mondays wave of deadly russian middle a missile attacks on cities. They dismissal strikes,