Abstract
The Acholi people of north ern Uganda have endured a brutal and complex war for over two decades. Although formal psychosocial support is of ten inconsistent, inaccessible, or culturally inapt, the Acholi’s use of artistic expression—in clud ing dance, art, music, drama, storytelling, and creative writing—enables the reconstruction of social and cultural identities that have been challenged by violent conflict. The restorative qualities of art in its vari ous forms offer great opportunity for peaceful reconciliation by serving as a vehicle for selfexpression and the negotiation of in di vidual and social identities and relations. For waraffected youth, such creative expression can enable transformation, both individually and communally, of their realities from the wreckage of war towards acceptance and a construction of peace that includes social rehabilitation and conflict prevention. In turn, artistic expression empowers young people to serve as community educators using creative skills and knowledge. This multimedia essay highlights the use of creative arts as peacebuilding tools and a means to foster personal and community empowerment among waraffected youth.
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