Art is a reflection of our cultures – the channel through which humankind’s civilisations manifest. The art we leave behind is often how our civilisations and cultures are measured.
The arts and its varied forms have been the most important driver for culture transfer across boundaries and generations. From Picasso to Nok, we can tell of the past and the nature of previous generations because their thoughts were recorded as art. The complexities of a culture and the nuances that come with it are, not only transported across oceans, but imbibed by complete strangers to its nature, because of the arts – musings, commentary, celebration, reflection, and sometimes criticism of society’s actions.
Although creatives have been known to deliver a wide array of entertaining, inspirational and transformative pieces, for as long as humanity has existed, the value of this important aspect of society has often been underestimated. A long-ignored area of study, the role of the arts in improving development outcomes is rapidly gaining the attention of international academics and development practitioners. Globally, creatives are increasingly taking significant roles in driving the conversation about sustainability – raising awareness of the impact of climate change and our activities on the planet, as well as encouraging more sustainable social, economic, and environmental practices worldwide. A poem by Chuma Nwokolo, Nigerian lawyer, writer and publisher, articulates this perfectly:
they walked with us
although they rowed their boats alone,
we were the souls that drove them on
they did not rape
their creeks and groves
because they belonged to us
they could not soil their name
because it was ours as well
they took hold of
their inheritance of earth,
harvesting fruit from trees
they did not plant,
and sowing trees
whose fruit they would not eat…
to the end that we,
lonely workers of these rich acres,
will never forget that
we are not alone
Recently, the Ben Enwonwu Foundation brought together artists, economists and environmentalists to discuss and promote collaboration among different actors. The highlight was the significant role arts can play in driving relevant policies for achieving climate change goals, which are founded on the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Achieving the SDGs within the next ten years requires all efforts and all sectors to work together, each one contributing its quota. None of us should be left out of supporting the efforts to “leave no one behind”. Children must be able to understand and imagine the possibilities, whether negative or positive, of our actions. Young people must also be empowered to deliver under the SDGs and education is the driver for action. However, education must be delivered creatively and in the way it would be accepted for it to be successful. In an increasingly distracted world, arts education bridges the gap for teacher and students.
A recent study by the Brooking Institute provided some of the first and most substantive evidence that arts educational experiences can produce significant positive impacts on academic and social development. The study found that in schools where there was substantial increase in arts education experiences, there were “remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes”. We have also noticed the significant impact it has on teachers, as well.
SDGs are a critical part of the teacher training that the Five Cowries Initiative delivers through the “My Story of Water” and “My Story of Energy programmes”. We work with teachers to develop more creative approaches to teaching while helping them understand and deliver the concepts of climate change and sustainability. For example, in 2019, we commissioned ‘My Story of Energy’ to encourage STEM participation, in partnership with Ardova Plc. Through the visual arts, students learn the basics of science and its import for day-to-day activities within nature and the environment. Before our programme began in 2019, most of the teachers we worked with could not explain concepts such as global warming, climate change, carbon footprint, extinction, ecosystem and blue planet. It was even more challenging when conversations about fossil fuels began. We also noticed that teachers who did not understand these concepts were unable to translate this into easy-to-understand terms for their pupils, let alone make it relevant to their learning experience. By taking environmental consciousness to schools with the arts, children can now understand cause-and-effect and apply the lessons to daily living.
We all have responsibilities as individuals towards safeguarding our environment for future generations. This also entails educating them on the earth and the best way to deal with it. By incorporating the arts into our communications activities, we let it do what it does best – influence society.
Polly Alakija
Founder, Five Cowries Initiative
