The Bidi Bidi performing arts venue offers more than 250,000 refugees the chance to sing, play, dance – and dream of a peaceful futureThe sound of a flute floats towards five young men in the 1,000-seat Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre theatre in Uganda – the country that hosts the highest number of refugees in Africa. The music carries past them to the shrubs that surround the circular majestic building and the neighbours going about their lives, the more than 250,000 refugees who live in the 250 sq km Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, the largest refugee camp in Africa.The young men – gathered for a chance to play a musical instrument or record music – welcome visitors with the awkward smile of youth. They are seated under the oldest fig tree, where the dream of building a place for the creative young people of Bidi Bidi to commune and nurture their talents was born. Continue reading...
The Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre in Uganda serves as a creative and social hub for over 250,000 refugees in the Bidi Bidi settlement, the largest refugee camp in Africa. Supported by NGOs and foundations, the centre promotes creative expression as a human right, offering refugees opportunities to heal from trauma, foster social cohesion, and engage in music, dance, and cultural activities.
