Growing up in Malawi in the late 80s and early 90s we had no cellphones and video games were for the wealthy. So we played outside we made clay dolls, homes, toy utensils and toy communities. The boys made cars from waste metals and wires. Indeed once upon a time, we made all our toys; balls from recycled tights and plastic bags, wire framed race cars, rag dolls, clay and wooden houses, bangles, beadwork, toy guns, bicycles…we made it all. (www.artinme.com website)
I believe this initiative is a wonderful way to celebrate cultural diversity and to empower youth that they can use their talents and creativity to make a living while spreading the appreciation of african culture. Please see #AIMFestival18 for last year's festival.

" The Art in Me Initiative has come up as a reminder to the talented youth that pursuing school or even dropping out of school should never rob them of the opportunity to discover, grow, cherish and earn from their skills, gifts and talents. We are grooming young people to appreciate that they can draw paintings, they can perfect their poetry lines and write, they can stage a dancing concert, they can convey a message through a pencil drawing, they can use waste material to make crafts. " Julius Ssekajja, artinme founder.

The annual festival has been running for the past 4 years and the goal for the artinme team is to start an academy for art. And to keep showcasing the rich diversity of artistic minds in Africa. I would like to see this initiative develop and grow into and all Africa art festival. Art is a special language understood by most. It captures what is the good the true nd the beautiful in our cultures and honours creativity. This is why I am promoting the artinme festival.