The Role of Art in the Liminal Setting of Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/1920-7336.41319

Keywords:

liminality, hybridity, refugee camp, identity, art

Abstract

In this article, we examine the role of art in negotiating hybrid identities among refugees in the Nakivale settlement, Uganda. We highlight how refugees use artistic expression to navigate their sense of belonging and reconstruct their lives amid prolonged displacement. Our study explores the dynamic interplay between refugees’ cultural practices and the influences of governmental and non-governmental organizations. By emphasizing the potential of bottom-up artistic initiatives, we challenge traditional views of refugee passivity and underscore the importance of supporting refugee-led cultural expressions to enhance policy-making and improve the quality of life for displaced individuals.

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Author Biographies

Mateusz Krawczyk, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland

Mateusz M. Krawczyk is a PhD candidate at the University of Wrocław. He can be reached at mateusz.krawczyk@uwr.edu.pl.

Ana Beatriz Baselice Pelicioni, Independent Researcher

Ana Beatriz B. Pelicioni is an independent researcher. She can be reached at anapelicioni@gmail.com.

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Published

2025-07-31

How to Cite

Krawczyk, M., & Baselice Pelicioni, A. B. (2025). The Role of Art in the Liminal Setting of Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees, 41(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.25071/1920-7336.41319

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