UVA reinforces its Call to protect Artistic Freedom at iREP 2025

On Sunday, March 30, 2025, Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA) actively participated in the CORA Art Stampede at the iREPRESENT International Film Festival, iREP, engaging in critical discourse based on the overall theme “FREEDOM: Rights and Responsibility.” The event which took place at the Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery of the Freedom Park, Lagos Island had cultural and creative practitioners from music, literature, theatre and visual arts genres in attendance.

Representing UVA, the Programme Manager, Segun Aribisala delivered a presentation on the Stampede’s topic: “Is ART a Limitless FREEDOM Way?”—a subject that sparked insightful discussions on the boundaries of artistic freedom in an era of digital influence, censorship, and misinformation.

Accompanied by Research and Advocacy (R&A) team members Prince Adeola Goloba and Toluwalope Olowoyo, and the R & A Manager, Sola Alamutu (the Green Queen), the UVA delegation reinforced the importance of protecting artistic expression as a fundamental right. The team emphasized that while art serves as a powerful tool for truth and resistance, it also carries the responsibility of ethical engagement in a rapidly shifting media landscape.

During the engaging discussions, UVA contributed thought-provoking perspectives on the challenges artists face in navigating freedom of expression within societal and institutional constraints. The team reiterated that “Artistic freedom, when protected, thrives, but suffers when restricted.”

UVA’s presence at iREP 2025 reaffirmed our commitment to advocating for policies and spaces that uphold artistic freedom as an essential pillar of democracy and social change.