Anataban Campaign
The Anataban Campaign is an artist collective based in Juba, South Sudan. The group uses street theater, graffiti, murals, sculpture and poetry to foster public discussion about the issues of social injustice and government accountability, and transparency. Anataban members see solidarity, courage, integrity, inclusion, non-violence and political neutrality as the important values guiding their work.
Background
The South Sudanese Civil War began in 2013. The people live in fear because there is a high level of armed violence and sexual violence, mostly against women. The conflict has affected food production leading to hunger and poverty.History
In September 2016, Anataban was founded in Juba by a group of South Sudanese visual artists, musicians, actors, poets, and fashion designers. The group was created in response to the South Sudanese Civil War. The campaign emerged from a collaborative workshop held in Naivasha, Kenya, with Pawa 254, a Nairobi-based hub for activists, journalists, and artists. In Juba Arabic, Ana Taban, means "I am tired".In The Guardian, the Anataban collective said, "We are tired of war and all the suffering that comes with it. We are tired of just sitting by and seeing our country burn. We are tired of having a country with vast natural resources and yet a crashing economy. We are tired of the fact that we have a beautiful cultural diversity that is destroyed by tribal animosity. We are tired of having a starving population yet we have a fertile land. We are tired of being used to kill ourselves for the benefit of a few".
On September 21, 2016, the International Day of Peace Anataban distributed 1000 white handkerchiefs with the message "we are sorry for what we have done to each other" written on them. They spoke with people in the streets, apologizing for what they have had to endure in this country.
In 2017, Anataban launched the campaign "#BloodShedFree2017" It seeks a genuine and permanent ceasefire in South Sudan; security for all citizens; an end to ethnic targeting and violence; protection of the right to free speech; and a return to justice and the rule of law.
On September 14, 2024, it received the "Aglaya International Award" for its contribution to the Culture of Peace, from the Artisophia Foundation, in the Canary Islands.
Goals
Anataban's aim is to create a platform for the ordinary South Sudanese citizen to speak out and have their voice heard. Anataban aims to create awareness of the common struggles of the South Sudanese people, especially the insecurity of war. The basis of Anataban's work is to use artivism to engage and mobilize people through community dialogues on the issues affecting them.Anataban visits various communities with art, music, street theatre, murals, sculptures, and poetry. They use various platforms such as media opportunities and social media to speak out.