Integrating East Africa Through Arts and Culture: A Report of the EASTAFAB Tours and Exhibitions

Abstract

Integrating the East African region through culture has probably not been given much thought or made much of a priority in East Africa and Africa as a whole. Though integration of the East African nations began during the colonial era and passed through challenges in different phases, a space for culture, or visual art in particular, has not been much realised in this case. This paper is based on experience gained from the art tour undertaken by the East Africa Art Biennale Association (EASTAFAB) team to stage art exhibitions in the capitals of the East African states, purposely to further regional integration through culture. The whole idea was to support the vision and mission of the East African community of creating a borderless society of East African people by integrating the East African nations. The EASTAFAB wanted, by using culture, to make a meaningful contact between artists and the people of East Africa and beyond. This study argues that culture has a space conducive to regional integration and uses the EASTAFAB project as a platform for this argument. East African policymakers and art students in higher academic institutions, especially in the East African region, are expected to benefit from this paper.