By Brown Chimezie
A nongovernmental organisation, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), has launched a series of arts and culture-based inter-community solidarity activities aimed at fostering social cohesion and offering alternative paths to violence to improve community security in the Niger Delta. This initiative, which is part of the larger project “A Community-Centred Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence,” is being implemented across Bayelsa and Delta states between September and December 2024.
The project leverages arts and cultural activities to address communal conflicts, resource-based disputes, and inter-communal violence, which remain prevalent in the Niger Delta region. Through dance, drama, music, and interactive experiences, the initiative seeks to build trust and open dialogue between diverse communities, creating platforms for peaceful collaboration and conflict resolution.
“This initiative is vital in bridging divides between communities affected by violence and conflict. Arts and culture provide a unique avenue for fostering unity and building relationships, promoting peace, and reducing the drivers of violence,” said Aniekan Archibong, PIND’s Project Lead.
The arts-based activities will involve direct participation from youth, women, community members, and security actors, with 16 communities across Bayelsa and Delta states benefiting from these efforts. Each event will create the space for communities to express their cultural heritage while addressing social issues and promoting unity. The activity aims to enhance social harmony, strengthen cooperation, and promote non-violent solutions to communal conflict.
The project, funded by the European Union (EU), implemented by consortium partners- Search for Common Ground, Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), and Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), focuses on fostering inclusive community security approaches to address the systemic drivers of violence and criminality in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states, by promoting inclusive participation and encouraging collaboration between communities.
By integrating local cultural expressions with peace-building strategies, the initiative will contribute to long-term security and stability in the Niger Delta, helping to build resilient communities in the face of persistent challenges.