Community poetry has been devised as a method to serve as a large deal of influencing positive social cohesion and adaptability for peace-building, which has been effective towards combating differences and discriminations and replacing them with understanding and sense of belonging. #catai

Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative with Support from Neem Foundation engaged with Shokari Ward in Jere local Government of Borno state to run a pilot model of the “Theatre of the Oppressed” in a format of community poetry. This strategy was objectively chosen to give the kind of impact negotiated between a performer and audience with a sense of connection to what is being performed.

With the Members of Shokari Community using our community engagement strategy, we engaged 10 people that serve as performers to perform on different social issues in influencing peace building processes and social cohesion.

The poetry play shaped the narratives of the community people making them speak for themselves with the power of communication.

The community session took turn with over 200 people of the community people with majority being women and children. They were overwhelmed with what they saw and attest it was one of a kind ever brought to their community.