A group of Ugandan artists under the collective Sounds of Renewal has launched an EU-funded environmental arts initiative that transforms waste materials into musical instruments, costumes, sculptures and educational tools in a bid to promote recycling, creative innovation and sustainable living.
The project, dubbed Green Poetry, brings together musicians, spoken word performers and choreographers who use artistic expression as a platform for environmental advocacy. Funded by the European Union, the initiative is being implemented through a series of creative workshops and performances aimed at encouraging communities to rethink how they view and manage waste.
At the centre of the project is the concept of waste transformation, where discarded materials such as plastic bottles, metal scraps and other reusable items collected from communities are repurposed into functional artistic tools.
Speaking about the initiative, artist Shakul Maganda said the project demonstrates how creative industries can contribute to environmental protection while encouraging artistic innovation.
“We collect waste from different communities and transform it into musical instruments, costumes, classroom materials and sculptures,” Maganda said. “We then use these in our performances to educate people about protecting the environment.”
He explained that the project combines several art forms, including spoken word, choreography and experimental music, to deliver environmental messages in a way that is engaging and accessible to local audiences.
According to Maganda, the initiative was implemented through a two-week creative residency that brought together artists for intensive rehearsals, collaboration and final performances.
“The project has been about bringing artists together to combine our talents in music, choreography and spoken word while promoting environmental conservation,” he said.
Maganda added that EU support enabled the team to explore new artistic approaches and reach communities that may not typically engage with environmental campaigns delivered through conventional methods.
Another participating artist, percussionist Christopher Kiberu, said the project also highlights the economic potential of recycling, especially for young people looking for alternative sources of income.
He encouraged Ugandans to view everyday waste, particularly plastic bottles, as valuable raw materials rather than rubbish.
“You don’t need to throw away a plastic bottle after drinking water,” Kiberu said. “Keep it because you can create something useful from it. We make instruments from those bottles, perform with them and earn money from them.”
Kiberu said the initiative not only raises environmental awareness but also demonstrates how creative recycling can become a livelihood opportunity for artists and community groups.
He called for wider adoption of recycling practices across Uganda, arguing that environmental protection requires collective responsibility.
The project also features community outreach programmes where artists engage residents directly, teaching them how to repurpose waste materials into products such as toys, decorative items and basic educational tools.
Artist Arnold Wakabi, who participated in the performances and creative production process, said the initiative was designed to merge artistic expression with environmental storytelling.
“The project gave us an opportunity to merge spoken word with music and create an artistic experience that encourages people to think differently about the environment,” Wakabi said.
He said the performances created immersive experiences where audiences could interact with art made entirely from recycled materials, reinforcing the message that waste can be transformed into value.
Wakabi added that the project extended beyond performance spaces through community outreach activities, where artists demonstrated practical recycling and upcycling methods.
“We have gone into communities and shown people how to make toys out of plastic bottles and other materials so they can see waste as something useful rather than rubbish,” he said.
He emphasised that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and that the project’s message is intended to reach people of all ages and backgrounds.
The Sounds of Renewal collective said the Green Poetry initiative is part of a growing movement using the arts to address environmental challenges, particularly plastic pollution and poor waste management in both urban and rural communities.
Organisers said the project aims to encourage behavioural change, especially among young people, while strengthening the role of creative industries in environmental advocacy.
The initiative will conclude with performances showcasing musical instruments, costumes and installations made entirely from recycled materials, reinforcing the message that waste can be transformed into both art and opportunity.
