South Sudan artists paint for peace in Juba

Indian Mirchi

8 years ago

After nearly three years of devastating civil conflict, South Sudanese artists have come together to try and get the country thinking and talking about peace, by launching a public art project in the capital Juba.

Painted murals have appeared on walls and shipping containers across the city.

The Ana Taban collective (from the Arabic “I am tired”) takes its name from a parallel pro-peace movement in Syria.

The walls of schools, bakeries and cultural centres in Juba have been repurposed as concrete canvases for the artists.

The man depicted treating a child in the centre of the artwork is inspired by Dr Ding Col Dau, who returned to South Sudan in 2014 to practise medicine, but was murdered in his own home the following year.

Cutting our Roots, Destroying Ourselves depicts the self-destructive nature of the conflict.

Having spread its message over many of the walls in Juba, the team now plans to extend the project outside the capital.