Art of Ubuntu
The Transformative Power of Creativity
I’m truly excited to share this story with you. It’s one that has taken me some time to write, not because it isn’t worth telling, but because I didn’t know where to begin. This journey represents so much of what Ubuntu stands for—unity, empowerment, and uplifting communities through love, creativity, and collaboration.
In southern Uganda, in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, live 15 young refugee artists who are determined to build their professional career as artists while providing a safe and supportive environment for refugee children and youth to learn art and express themselves creatively.
Over 3 years ago, they came together to form Nakivale Young Talent Community (NYTC). NYTC is both an artist collective as well as a free arts education program providing 80 refugee children and youth Monday through Saturday with basic and advanced art instruction as well as creative expression opportunities such as singing, guitar, fashion shows/modeling, storytelling and illustration.
Their art tells stories of resilience, hope, and cultural pride.
It’s hard to imagine such beauty emerging from a place many would view as a last resort. Yet, these kids from Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and other neighboring countries, who fled their homes seeking safety, have created masterpieces that deserve global recognition.
All of the teachers (and their students) are in the Settlement because they fled with or without their families from East African countries experiencing conflict, climate change disasters, and food insecurity.
Seeking their way in this new life, each of these young refugee artists turned to visual, creative expression as a way to express their emotions, to work through the trauma and pain of being a refugee while also expressing their hopes and dreams for the future. To see a sample of their work, visit this gallery of paintings produced this summer and this gallery from their most recent painting sessions to witness the beauty of their work.
Over several years, they started to find each other, cluster together, build new friendships and become each other's second family. Then in 2021, under the leadership of now 22-year old founder
, they formalized their efforts and started Nakivale Young Talent Community (NYTC). NYTC is now a registered community-based organization and they operate as an artist collective and arts education program.Producing & Selling Art
This Spring 2024 was a turning point for NYTC. In partnership with Emily Kaminsky of The Creative Convergence and RainMaker Design, NYTC held its first ever virtual art expo showcasing the artwork of 10 of the artists to the world.
Through ticket sales and donations, including a donation from Stand Up For Justice, they raised enough funds to purchase paints, brushes, and canvases for the artist-teachers to produce new artwork for sale and to support their free art education programming.
Within a month, the artist collective produced 30+ new art pieces. Check out this post on the Refugee Artist Support Circle (a new section on Emily’s Creative Convergence Substack) that features a gorgeous short video of the artists creating with my piano music.
One painting in particular, The Beauty of Africa by Congolese refugee artist Mansur Kabera, captivated me.
It became the inspiration for our mission to support NYTC. This is more than just about art—it’s about providing these young creators a platform to shine and helping them thrive despite the challenges they face.
Community, Creativity, and Collaboration
Emily Kaminsky, of
and who has been a steadfast supporter of our Ubuntu family, introduced the idea of using Substack as a storytelling tool. With her guidance, we’ve empowered others to share their Ubuntu stories, amplifying voices across the globe. Emily also partnered with Stand Up for Justice, another organization close to my heart, to find ways to uplift NYTC.In late September, we held another online Art Exhibit called the World Through My Eyes, this time featuring the work of 16 artists: 10 from NYTC, 3 from Future Within CBO in Kibera Slums (Kenya), and 3 from Refuge Art School in the USA.
At the same time, we hosted an online auction showcasing the kids’ work to raise funds and bring attention to their incredible talents. That week was emotional on so many levels. The group’s founder faced a serious health scare but thankfully survived. You can read more about the harrowing lead up to the art expo here, on Emily’s Refugee Artist Support Circle September newsletter.
Despite these challenges, the kids presented their art during the Zoom event (the full replay can be found here on YouTube), sharing the meanings behind their creations. Their passion and pride shone brightly.
We also discovered that their talents go beyond visual art—they’re incredible musicians too! They sent us a remix of Go Pato that moved us to tears. Their creativity isn’t just about survival; it’s about thriving, finding joy, and feeding their souls through expression.
I absolutely love this piece (above) titled The Impatience Within created by NYTC art teacher, Krehim Sharon (whom you can read about more here). It resonates deeply with me, reminding me of the thought adjuster within our minds—a guiding presence that leads us toward truth, beauty, and goodness when we take the time to truly listen.
As part of Stand Up for Justice, we bid on and purchased four more paintings during the auction. I was particularly drawn to the stunning depictions of African women. For me, these works symbolize the Rise of the Divine Feminine, and their beauty feels perfectly aligned with the transformative energy of this moment in time.
A Gift to the World
These young artists remind us that art has the power to transcend circumstances. It heals, inspires, and connects us. Supporting them is more than just a mission; it’s a privilege.
You can help too.
Explore their work (here and here) and learn about their stories at The Refugee Artist Support Circle on The Creative Convergence. There you will find monthly updates on their journey as an artist collective and art education center providing 80+ refugee children and youth with free art education. Every story and every piece is a window into their world, their struggles, and their dreams.
Together, we can help them escape the vicissitudes of life and find peace through creativity. Let’s make them famous and share their gifts with the world.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Four Ways to Support Ubuntu
Subscribe to the Ubuntu International Substack. While all content is free, readers can level up to become paid subscribers. All net subscriptions fund the Ubuntu Empowerment Fund, supporting amazing Ubuntu-practicing individuals and organizations.
Join us on Facebook.
Join the public Facebook group called Ubuntu Family to meet and get to know the people that we are supporting and helping. It’s where we can all come together and share knowledge and resources amongst each other in the Spirit of Ubuntu. Come, join us!Donate directly to the organizations listed on the Ubuntu Empowerment Fund website. Visit the Spirit of Ubuntu website’s Organization page to donate to specific organizations.
Donate to the Ubuntu Empowerment Fund. All donations made to the Fund are pooled with paid subscriptions to support the Ubuntu Family Network (UFN).
Thank you for reading, your encouragement and support! Get involved, share this post, and become part of the Ubuntu Family Network (UFN)!
Ubuntu to the world!
Love this post, Antoinette. Another story proving that working together we can achieve incredible impact especially for those who have born the brunt of a decades long conflict in the Congo. Art is a healing salve, a common denominator, a way to relate and connect. Art is an expression of Ubuntu.
Thank you Antoinette for connecting us to this beautiful art work, and more importantly, the artists themselves. I look forward to finding ways to support you and them!