Citizenship: the role of the performing arts in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda as a country contends with aspects of religious, gender, age, class, cultural and racial variances, and if these issues are not addressed, they will continue to affect the cohesion of our society and the development of a common identity. The performing arts are a  crucial conduit for empowering the youth with knowledge, skills and understanding that every learner requires to comply as active and  responsible citizens. Citizenship at this level will not only require a perception and subsequent application of skills achieved, but also a  commitment and purpose, ensuring sustainable dialogue and a critical probing of the consequences with the community and the need  for citizens to work together with fellow citizens to develop their community. The performing arts are central in bridging this gap as they  indeed provoke the mind with their precision and obscurity to foster good citizenship through collaboration and teamwork necessary for  artistic projects and mission at institutions of learning and especially in the communities. This paper discusses how the integrated performing arts as an expression of culture foster the act of citizenship amongst the various categories of people within the community.  It discusses two Community-based performing arts establishments including Ndere Foundation and Watoto Child Care Ministries as  interventions in fostering citizenship.