From addressing the damaging influence of advertising, to using traditional songs to raise awareness, several projects conducted by academics at universities across Africa, funded by the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, will be showcased as part of researchers’ efforts to create meaningful change.
The public lecture, ‘Tackling the Global Gambling Epidemic: What Can We Learn from Africa?’, takes place on Wednesday 15 October, 6 – 7:30pm at The Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building.
The lecture has been co-created and produced with study leaders and participants from the Pan-African Gambling Harms Research Network, as part of the Hub’s driving ethos to build the capacity of project investigators at the early stages of their careers and some of whose experience and expertise lies outside of academia. Attendees can expect to hear from speakers from Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa.
Among the discussion points of the evening will be some of the core findings to emerge from four projects, including how gambling affects urban youth, the damaging influence of advertising in African sports and media, the role of gambling in migration and university settings, and recommendations about how gambling messaging might be changed to reach those in need of support while countering the negative impact of gambling operator advertising.
Dr Lawrence Branco Sekalegga, from the Department of Performing Arts and Film at Uganda’s Makerere University, is one of the lead contributors whose exploratory research project centred community-led initiatives. The project culminated in a music video co-created and produced with young people, showcasing how traditional songs can raise awareness about gambling harms among the wider public.
“I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to come to Bristol and to share our project with a wider audience,” said Dr Sekalegga.
The remainder of the event will involve a panel discussion with other representatives from the Pan-African Gambling Harms Research Network, alongside Hub Co-Director Professor Agnes Nairn, who was recently recruited to the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), College of Experts. The panel will be moderated by Professor Isabella Aboderin, Chair of the Perivoli Africa Research Centre, University of Bristol.
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with the dedicated and energetic researchers from the Pan-Africa Gambling Harms Research Network whose aim is to combat the harms currently being inflicted on populations across the African continent,” said Professor Nairn, whose own research and expertise in the relationship between marketing, advertising and wellbeing has been pivotal to social policy and debates, especially with regards to protecting children from the harmful effects of gambling advertising on social media.
All are welcome to attend the free event on 15 October, which is sponsored by the Bristol Collegiate Research Society, by registering in advance via the Hub’s website.
Full details about the Hub’s program of events can be found here.