Since 2015, Nhimbe Trust has actively been involved in programming that advances artistic freedom. Among other dimensions highlighted earlier in the project proposal, this programming has included:
Legislation tracking, monitoring, review and contributing to legislation development.
Interviewing artists and CRD who are victims of artistic freedom violations (including those who have encountered detention, arbitrary arrests, persecution, prosecution, sanctioning, threats, harassment etc. on grounds of defamation).
Monitoring, documenting and reporting on court processes and decisions involving artistic freedom litigation premised on defamation.
Monitoring, documenting and reporting on artistic freedom violations, including those legitimated by allegations of defamation.
Monitoring, documenting and reporting on sanctions issued by state-sponsored regulatory bodies in response to artistic expressions bordering on alleged defamation.
One of the great aspects of the organisation’s work is its efforts to monitor violations of artistic freedom and rights in the region. In 2023 it monitored 20 categories of violations in 17 different African countries. Culminating the organisation’s efforts, Nhimbe also published a thorough report which included its monitoring data called ArtSpeak.[1] This report was part of the organisation’s work to raise awareness regarding the state of artistic freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report was dedicated to its long-term partner Freemuse, which Nhimbe long has provided with data on the region for the Freemuse yearly report on Artistic Freedom.
Nhimbe is well established in regional and international forums, exemplified by its participation in the recent 2005 UNESCO Convention IGC 17th meeting in Paris. Nhimbe is part of the civil society forums of the UNHRC and 2005 UNESCO Convention, UNDP, ILO, and African Union.
[1] Available for download on Nhimbe’s (and Mimeta’s) website, https://www.nhimbe.org/sites/default/files/reportdownloads/A%20Nhimbe%20Trust%20Artistic%20Freedom%20Report%202023sm-min.pdf
