The long arm of peace and passion -- from Cape Town to Downtown: Toronto's art activists drop in

"Artists have a special role to play in the global struggle for peace. At their best, artists speak not only to people; they speak for them. Art is a weapon against ignorance and hatred and an agent of public awareness." Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN


Conflict prevention and democratic construction have become prominent issues in international relations within the last few decades. The emphasis on prevention and reconstruction is due, in part, to the changing nature of violent conflict throughout the world. While conflicts and their reconciliation processes are often complex and multi-faceted, the rise in conflicts can be attributed to one underlying reason: identity-based civil wars. These wars are fought over imbalances in the distribution of economic, political or social resources. For that reason, it is essential to take into consideration how identity is constructed, disseminated and used in conflict (and post-conflict) states. It is just important to address the power of identity when designing and implementing peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding initiatives.

Bottom-up peace initiatives are an essential component of peace processes both in conflict and post-conflict zones. Civil society organizations (CSOs) that implement artistic bottom-up peace initiatives are uniquely positioned. Given their proximity to local actors, CSOs can deal directly with issues of identity. Through the medium of art, these CSOs can prompt individuals to challenge their preconceptions, beliefs and roles. This self-examination provides an opportunity for individuals to make a transition -- to go through the process of reconciliation -- by examining and redefining their identity. While this process can and does occur through other methods, the use of art is essential because of certain innate characteristics; characteristics that lend themselves to the reconstruction of identity both at an individual and at a collective level.

An example of a Canadian-inspired transnational artistic peace initiative is the District Six collective. Self described "District Six Music is an arts based collective. The Label and Production company provide resources and opportunities through innovative and alternative means for upcoming artists to showcase their music and become personally empowered within their work."

The collective works out of Toronto, but their passion for music and social responsibility transcends borders and boundaries and has taken their cause across the globe.

Last year, this translated into District Six facilitating the first North American tour of Tumi and the Volume -- a South African hiphop quartet with a passion for diversity and a desire to promote local talent in a globalized world.

To appreciate the connection between the Toronto-based collective and the J'Burg quartet it's important to understand the history of District Six, Cape Town.

"District Six was named the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town in 1867. Originally established as a mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers and immigrants, District Six was a vibrant centre with close links to the city and the port. By the beginning of the twentieth century, however, the history of removals and marginalisation had begun. The first to be 'resettled' were black South Africans, forcibly displaced from the District in 1901. As the more prosperous moved away to the suburbs, the area became the neglected ward of Cape Town.In 1966, it was declared a white area under the Group areas Act of 1950, and by 1982, the life of the community was over. 60,000 people were forcibly removed to barren outlying areas aptly known as the Cape Flats, and their houses in District Six were flattened by bulldozers."

To this day, District Six has not been reclaimed by its original inhabitants -- nor has it been developed for the former intended inhabitants. Instead, a museum now marks the spot to record and bear witness the ramifications of prejudice, racism and hate that once gripped the country of South Africa.

For more information on the District Six music collaboration go to:
http://www.districtsixmusic.com/flash/index.html

For more information on District Six in South Africa go to:
http://www.districtsix.co.za/frames.htm

For more information on art as activism go to:
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/CYIJ/laying_art.html
http://www.wsu.edu/~amerstu/smc/art.html

For an article on Ani DeFranco's input into art as activism go to:
http://www.alternet.org/story/20347/