Various actors in the arts and culture sector in the Central African Republic (CAR) have joined hands to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. 25 artists in the fields of music, theatre, cinema, painting, literature and fashion design among others, came together between 8 and 18 June 2020 to raise public awareness on Covid-19 and say “NO” to stigmatization through art.

United by a common goal to ensure the success of the national Covid-19 response, the artists lent their talents to spreading the word on stopping the virus through various creative exploits, as part of a Central African Republic  Government and MINUSCA joint initiative.

Through the group, efforts to reach the masses have been boosted by the recording of five educational songs using various rhythms (rumba, rap, soukous, gospel and traditional-modern music) and the production of a comic strip on the disease and measures to prevent it. Moreover, 20 colourful murals have been painted in various locations, including the town hall of Begoua, at the crossroads of the 8th district of Bangui, on the premises of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, at the crossroads of the Technical High School, at the Maison des Combattants as well as in the commune of Bimbo.

Another 60 artists have been provided with capacity-building sessions on disseminating key messages through their platforms. The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism has, in addition, partnered with MINUSCA to raise awareness on day-to-day preventive measures to combat the virus through national radio and television.

With the number of coronavirus infections in the country exponentially rising – to over 3,000 just over the past few weeks – educating the public on containing the pandemic has been central to the Government’s response plan, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health. Behavioural change is at the core of messaging – with emphasis on taking responsibility for individual protection in order to protect others – such as through the mandatory wearing of masks in public.

Cartoonist Galileo Galilei is proud to be of service: “I had not had the chance to express myself on Covid-19 until now. The initial information on the pandemic inspired me greatly. By educating people through my work, I feel I have accomplished something good for my country.”

The hope is that art’s universal appeal will be an effective tool in helping to turn the tide on the current public health crisis. A diverse range of communication channels are being employed to reach all segments of the population, in addition to conventional awareness-raising campaigns. “This initiative from MINUSCA has been a good opportunity for us artists to get together for the first time in a long time, to support a worthy cause,” said musician Ozaguin.