Karamoja Arts and Crafts

Culture for Peace & Conservation

Leveraging culture as a source of livelihood will ease the hostility between culture, development and a “modern” lifestyle and encourage young people in Karamoja to respect, preserve and embrace their traditions whilst also enhancing their opportunities in life.

Our mission

Karamoja Arts & Crafts project strives to support numerous local artists specialising in arts and crafts, such as jewellery and decorative items. These artists have established a local market for a basic income, but through the Kara-Tunga Arts initiative we aim at increasing their household income and preserving the tangible cultural heritage by connecting them to the (inter)national market through branding, improving the product range and quality control.

Exposure visit to Nairobi

Women crafts group member

Heritage conservation

Heritage conservation and cultural rights are threatened by the forces of globalisation and and many survival needs. This programme reflects a need to raise public consciousness of Karamoja’s culture, not only as a source of revenue through tourism and related employment, but also as central to the history and identity of Karimojong.

Heritage conservation

Heritage conservation and cultural rights are threatened by the forces of globalisation and and many survival needs. This programme reflects a need to raise public consciousness of Karamoja’s culture, not only as a source of revenue through tourism and related employment, but also as central to the history and identity of Karimojong.

kara-tunga-karamoja-uganda-workshop-tour-stool-hat-arrow-spear-23

Women crafts group member

Key outcomes

Inclusive Livelihoods

The production of arts and crafts is inclusive because it doesn’t require any formal education. It promotes the preservation of cultural heritage and directly benefits the artist.

Peace & Conservation

Peace has only recently prevailed in Karamoja and the people are facing rapid pressure of modernisation. Through direct benefits of tourism, pressure will reduce on the biodiversity and create ambassadors of conservation.

Restoring Pride

Through direct benefit of tourism, pressure will reduce on wildlife poaching and charcoal burning. It will rather create ambassadors for conservation.