Creative Art of Ageing competition proves hit with Zimbabwe and The Gambia communities

Music and dance category winners, The Hopley Group, pose with 1st place prizes and certificates in Harare, Zimbabwe Ardent Creative

Mixed media finalist artwork in the form of a knitted blanket from Zimbabwe Ardent Creative

Some of The Art of Ageing Showcase attendees from The Gambia Ardent Creative

Press release issued: 11 March 2024

A creative arts competition giving older people in Zimbabwe and The Gambia a platform to express their experiences about ageing saw hundreds of entries showcase their artistic talent across four categories: music, dance, prose, and mixed media from across both countries. The competition, part of a University of Bristol led research project, hopes to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite, many competition entries having no formal training, the judging panel considered the shortlist 'so impressive they should be on national television'. Entries in the mixed media category included handmade pottery and crocheted blankets.

Celia Gregson, NIHR Global Health Research Professor of Healthy Ageing at the University of Bristol and The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe (THRU-ZIM), and Honorary Consultant Geriatrician at the Royal United Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Bath, who led the competition as part of her NIHR-Wellcome-funded research programme 'Healthy ageing in sub-Saharan Africa', said: "We were delighted to see so many people engage with this competition to help share ideas towards wellbeing in older age, and importantly combat ageism.

"It was wonderful to see all the incredible entries and hear peoples’ views on ageing. One of the most striking comments on ageing from one of the participants was simply, 'Ageing is a great blessing that one should embrace wholeheartedly'."

In Zimbabwe, finalists went through a mentorship stage, where they were assisted in creating innovative final projects, themed around wellbeing and ageing. The Zimbabwe winners, finalists and their artworks were then celebrated in an Art of Ageing Showcase event held last month [Friday 16 February].

The event was attended by multiple stakeholders including members of various ministries, embassies, local and international organisations working with older populations in Zimbabwe. All finalists received participation certificates and gift hampers, and winners received additional cash prizes.

Winners of the Music and Dance category (Zimbabwe): 1st: Hopley Group; 2nd: Vhuramai Dancers; 3rd: Benjamin Mupavaenda

Winners of Prose category (Zimbabwe): 1st: Thandiwe Muzenda; 2nd: Ahani Dube; 3rd: Rose Hanyane

Winners of the Mixed Media category (Zimbabwe): 1st: Florence Nyakapini; 2nd: Lovemore Mandiopera; 3rd: Pauline Chisvo

In The Gambia, a panel of judges met to select the winners from the finalist projects. The winners in the Music/Dance and Spoken Word and Arts and Mixed media categories and all the finalists and their artworks were celebrated at the Art of Ageing Showcase in The Gambia at MRCG@LSHTM Seminar Hall held on Wednesday 28 February.

The event was attended by over 50 stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the MRCG PI, Ageing with a Smile Gambia, MRCG@LSHTM staff, Alkalos, Village Development Committee and local organisations. The event included a live performance by The Gambia’s well-known vocalist and songwriter Barhama Cham.

Winners of the Music/Dance and Spoken Words category (The Gambia): 1st: Kaddy Ceesay; 2nd: Borry Gomez; 3rd: Roheyatou Colley

Winners of the Arts and Mixed Media category (The Gambia): 1st: Saikou Ali Ceesay; 2nd: Landing Camara; 3rd: Manifa Njie

In addition to the Art of Ageing art competitions, the engagement programme is also working on an 'Ageing Well' film that will use cinematic storytelling to explore ageing journeys in Zimbabwe and The Gambia.

The film will include expert interviews, testimonials from older people, art, including the art competition top entries, and re-enactments informed by interviews and workshops with older people.