Citizen Voice is a project which explores the potential role of the arts in dialogues between environmental activists and policy actors in West Africa. The Arts and Humanities Council (AHRC) funded project aims to explore whether artistic endeavours can prompt a new kind of communication between the involved groups, with the view to work together to find more effective responses to environmental challenges.

Through this project, they have released a song co-created by activists, civil society representatives and policy actors in Mali. In a workshop in Bamako, Mali, the musician Mariam Kone convened a group of activists, civil society representatives, and policy actors to write lyrics to a song about care for the environment. Those contributing to writing the lyrics of the verse included two visual artists, Férimata Diakité and Mariam Diarra. They were joined by participants far less accustomed to using the arts in their everyday work.

To find out more about this project, please visit the IDS website.