tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
On Friday April 15, the world commemorated World Art Day.
Proclaimed at the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019, World Art Day is a celebration to promote the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art.
UNESCO celebrates World Art Day to help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development.
In society, art also plays a critical role in addressing issues like early child marriages, gender based violence (GBV), crime, drug abuse, health, gender equality among others.
In Africa, Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany has been empowering the art community, which is a critical partner to raise awareness about sensitive health and social issues.
On Friday, Merck Foundation announced the launch of a TV show “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” to feature the first ‘Fashion and Art community with Purpose’ in Africa.
The television show was established by Merck Foundation to break the silence about social and health issues.
Marking World Art Day 2022 through their African Community of Art and Fashion with Purpose, Merck Foundation said they established the pan African community to raise awareness on sensitive health and social issues in Africa and beyond through the new TV program “Our Africa with Merck Foundation.”
The show will initially be broadcasted on National TV channels of Kenya – KTN and Uganda – NTV, and Ghana – GHOne TV.
Merck Foundation chief executive officer and One of 100 Most Influential Africans 2019, 2020 – 2021 Senator, Dr Rasha Kelej said, “I am so happy to be celebrating the ‘World Art Day 2022’.
“We at Merck Foundation strongly believe that media, art, and fashion play a very critical role in shaping the future development of our communities.”
She added: “Fashion and Art have a purpose beyond entertainment and looking good. We have also established our African Community of ‘Art and Fashion with Purpose’ with the aim to raise awareness about a wide range of social and health issues such as ending child marriage, ending FGM, stopping GBV, breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education and women empowerment and raise awareness about diabetes and hypertension and more.”
According to Dr Rasha, art in Africa has a rich cultural legacy and history.
“We at Merck Foundation want to encourage the youth in the continent to make use of various forms of art to create an impact and awareness on critical and sensitive social and health issues. With this thought, I will soon launch a TV show in Africa – ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’.
She added that the TV show is set to be the voice of the voiceless and break the silence about many social and health issues in Africa.
“Our aim with this TV show is to create a culture shift in the communities. The show is hosted by myself and Brian Mulondo from Uganda and will feature Fashion Designers and Music Artists from across Africa who contributed to spread positive awareness messages through their work”, added Dr Rasha.
She said Merck Foundation together with partners, the African First Ladies, have also launched many children’s storybooks created to address key social issues such as ending child marriage, stopping GBV, supporting girl education, and breaking the infertility stigma.
“We have collaborated with cartoon artists from various African countries to come up with these children’s storybooks for our young readers”, explained Dr Rasha.
In June last year First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa who is Ambassador of Merck Foundation More than a Mother, handed over 30,000 children storybooks to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the school students of Zimbabwe.
The storybooks handed over to Zimbabwean students are titled: “Tudu’s Story”, “Educating Rujeko Story” and “Make the Right Choice Story”.
Merck Foundation has also launched over 25 songs on breaking infertility stigma, supporting girls’ education, and women empowerment, in English, French and Portuguese language.
Dr Rasha emphasised, “Music is a great medium to take the important and sensitive messages to the community. I have produced and directed songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it.”
She added that more than 25 songs have been created in English, French, and local languages in countries such as Sierra Leone, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Burundi, Rwanda, Gambia, Malawi, Liberia, Mozambique, Uganda.
“We are proud that we have special three songs created, composed, and sung by The President of Liberia, H.E. Mr George Weah and the daughter of President and First Lady of Burundi and even the former First Lady of Burundi. for More Than a Mother campaign to break the stigma around infertility and infertile women in particular.”
Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies has also announced the Call for applications for their eight awards for media, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.
The awards include the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022. The award is open to media representatives and media students to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.
The Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 honour all African filmmakers, students of film making training institutions, or young talents of Africa who create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.
Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 also honour all African fashion students and designers. They create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.
The Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2022 All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a song with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.
The Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension” also honour media representatives who showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
· Merck Foundation Film Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
· Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
· Merck Foundation Song Awards 2022 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Online Reporter