Page 71 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 26
P. 71
Art & Culture
laws. Other environmental
groups, such as Green
Anglican, are also protecting
the environment through
their various church
programs. The Green Belt
Movement (GBM) initiative
led by Professor Wangari
Maathai won the Nobel TTitle : Kusoma | Artist : Patrick Esenerwa
Prize for championing
better management of the
environment, and waste Medium: Plastic
management, including
recycling, reusing waste, and
a clean environment, among
other things. environmental problems. plastic around the city of
It is also educating society Nairobi to create paintings.
Scholars at university to live in a healthier They intentionally recycled
conferences and seminars are environment. Several plastics to improve waste
discussing the importance artists have been celebrated management in Nairobi.
of managing plastic for utilizing eco-friendly Like other scholars around
waste through creative art art, including Rosemary the world, they also
activities. They acknowledge Karuga. She used Rexona responded to the call from
that creative art addresses and Unga packaging papers UNEP to recycle plastic
the challenges of climate to create masterpieces. as an alternative material
change in urban cities in Her inspiration for using for producing artwork.
Africa. They note the need Unga packaging offered an They launched a world-
to use environmentally opportunity to recycle and class exhibition at Kenyatta
friendly materials to create create art pieces. She turned University featuring a series
a healthier environment. biodegradable materials of plastic art paintings that
I have noticed that many into appreciated aesthetic depicted the lifestyle of
organizations and individuals masterpieces. In 2015, Joel Nairobi. The exhibition
are recycling plastic waste Oenga was recognized for included pieces titled “Bus
through creative art and collecting plastics from Station”, “Ng’ombe za
creating artwork that the ocean and using them Mtaa,” “Chokora,” and
depicts the challenges of to make furniture in Tiwi “Gorofa ya Juu Primary
climate change. This effort Beach, Kwale County. School,” among others. The
has inspired artists to be Mwaura Ndekere and Patrick title suggests:
creative and solve their Esenerwa collected colored
ISSUE 26 | APRIL 2024 71
