What if the ocean rebelled?
"If we don’t advocate for our ocean's well-being, by the close of this century, it could be hot, sour, and breathless," ~ Martina ~."
Bahari Huru (Swahili for ‘Free Ocean’) is a socially conscious art project advocating for marine environment protection. The project aims at building a coastal community that is more aware of the effects of pollution and climate change on the marine environment. This project is a platform for artists to create provocative performances and art installations that speak out against ocean pollution, ignite conversations, and challenge communities to take action.
Objectives
- 1. To trigger conversations on the vice that is ocean pollution along the Kenyan coast.
- 2. To create a communication bridge between the community and policy makers in order to create relevant and sustainable solutions to ocean pollution.
- 3. To actively engage community response by mirroring their actions on ocean pollution to allow them to reflect and find local solutions to the vice.
- 4. Celebrate the marine environment and emphasize its importance in sustaining our livelihoods.
Achievements
This annual project involves an art residency and a 10-day community festival. We have worked with over 40 artists coming together to create artwork and showcase it through the Bahari Huru Festival that has seen over 7000 people attending in 7 beach communities in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi county. The artwork is also showcased virtually reaching an audience of over 1,021,754 viewers, and was also featured at the COP-26 in 2021. We installed 12 dustbins in 12 beach access points in Mombasa all in an effort to curb plastic pollution in our ocean. Over the 3 editions, the project was made possible through sponsorships and partnerships from organizations including Kenya Maritime Authority, Base Titanium, Tourism Fund, Chloride Exide, ISCOS, Regional Logistics Centre, Afro Urban society, Crown Paints, Nation Media Group, County Government of Mombasa among others.
Key Activities:
Artist Residency
This program provides multidisciplinary artists with the opportunity to have designated time and space to learn, relearn and create new work around marine conservation. The artists work with factual information from scientists and researchers gotten during workshops.
Research Café
This is a roundtable conversation bringing together scientists, researchers and artists who come together in conversation to propel art science collaborations for the benefit of the community.
Installations
Installation artists create art pieces that are installed in the communities as functional structures like dustbins , which are placed at strategic spaces like beach access paths to curb pollution.
Festival
This is an annual 10-day traveling festival that happens in October. The culmination of the project is showcase of art during the Bahari Huru Festival. The festival takes place in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale county in different community spaces.
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Our team
Caroline Ngorobi
Martina Ayoro
Eulalia Okello
John Mumba
Brian Otieno
Arnold Frank
Paita Bakari
Our Partners
Testimonial
The live play at Fort Jesus in July was a mesmerizing journey into our roots. It was as if our ancestors were speaking to us through the performance. A truly unforgettable experience.
Audience
The Chimdzi Midzi project not only brought our cultural stories to life but also connected us to our identity in a profound way. The live play was a testament to the power of preserving heritage through art
Audience