By Admin
Paint took the place of protest placards. Music carried messages that words alone often struggle to convey. And for one day at least, young people spoke openly about issues that are too often pushed into the shadows.
That was the atmosphere as Vision Spring Initiatives staged its maiden Art and Advocacy Festival on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), turning creativity into a powerful tool for challenging long-held taboos around the health and rights of women and girls.
Held at Ndubuisi Kanu Park in Ikeja, the festival drew artists, students, advocates and members of the public into a space where conversations many consider uncomfortable unfolded naturally through paintings, spoken word, live music and honest dialogue.
The weather threatened to interrupt the programme. Dark clouds gathered and a brief drizzle fell, but the crowd stayed. If anything, the enthusiasm only grew, reflecting the determination of many young people to speak openly about issues affecting their health, dignity and future.
Welcoming participants, the Project Director of Vision Spring Initiatives, Ngozi Nwosu-Juba, said the festival was created to give young people something society rarely offers them: a safe, creative space where they can express themselves, question harmful norms and engage honestly with issues that shape their lives.
Introducing the organisation, Titilopemi Oriye reaffirmed Vision Spring Initiatives' commitment to putting young people at the centre of advocacy for gender equality, social justice and sexual and reproductive health and rights. That commitment was visible from the moment activities began.
A guided exhibition invited participants to interact directly with artists whose works explored body shaming, menstrual stigma, consent, access to accurate information and reproductive choice. The artwork wasn't dealing in abstract ideas. Instead, it reflected experiences many young people recognised from their own lives, prompting conversations that continued long after visitors moved from one canvas to the next.
From there, the festival shifted into an afternoon of performances. A soulful saxophone rendition set the mood before musicians Lummie and L.I.M brought energy to the stage with performances that blended entertainment and advocacy. A spoken word presentation followed, celebrating young people who are bold enough to tell their stories and challenge society's expectations.
There were quieter moments too. A documentary on sexual and reproductive health and rights highlighted the realities many young people continue to face, creating the perfect transition into an interactive panel discussion moderated by Oriye.
Panelists, including Barrister Chizelu Emejulu, artist George Adjete and monitoring and evaluation expert Adetutu Soneye, urged participants to question harmful cultural practices, defend their rights and recognise art as a powerful vehicle for social change.
What set the festival apart was its approach. Young people weren't simply invited to listen. They shaped the conversations, shared their experiences and became active participants throughout the programme.
They expressed themselves through collaborative art installations, face and body painting, and a large public mural that slowly transformed into a colourful reflection of shared experiences and collective hope as dozens of participants added their own creative touch.
Perhaps the day's most memorable moment came at the SRHR Commitment Board. One after another, participants stepped forward to publicly pledge that they would learn more about sexual and reproductive health and rights, speak out against stigma and discrimination, and continue the conversation in their schools, places of worship and across their social media platforms.
For Vision Spring Initiatives, a youth-focused, women-led organisation, the festival underscored what can happen when young people are given both the platform and the confidence to tell their own stories.
As the event drew to a close, participants left with far more than memories of music and performances. They walked away with renewed confidence, stronger connections and a shared resolve to keep challenging the silence surrounding sexual and reproductive health and rights long after the festival had ended.
