As the PANAF Summit approaches, set to take place from February 14 to 16 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, we sat down with Teshome Wondimu, founder and executive director of Selam, the organization behind the Pan African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF). He shared insights into the challenges facing African artists, censorship, economic instability, and the double-edged sword of digital platforms, while emphasizing the urgent need for collective advocacy to protect artistic rights across the continent.
Last year was a tough one for artistic freedom in Africa. Sociopolitical, economic, and cultural pressures continued to stifle creative expression. Reports like Freemuse’s The State of Artistic Freedom 2024 shed light on growing issues such as censorship, intimidation, and even imprisonment. For example, the report highlighted how women artists in Sub-Saharan Africa face heightened risks due to restrictive cultural norms. In Tanzania, musicians were persecuted for their work, while across the continent, over 20 cases of imprisonment were linked to art that expressed political dissent. In northern Nigeria, cultural and religious norms still prevent women from participating in the arts without male approval.
Economic instability has only made things worse. According to PANAF’s 2023 report, over 70% of artists in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and The Gambia operate under precarious conditions. In Kenya, artists grapple with limited government funding and a weak copyright enforcement system, which has led to rampant piracy. In Uganda, heavy taxation on creative goods has driven up costs, making it harder for artists to sustain themselves. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, poor infrastructure and inconsistent policies have further marginalized the creative sector. “Restrictive legislation, insufficient legal protection, and societal pressure remain key obstacles,” Wondimu explained. “Fear of censorship and a lack of legal safeguards often force artists into self-censorship.”
Despite these challenges, artists