Iran Embassy awards Cartoonists.

Iran Embassy has awarded Cartoonists during the festival with a theme of Applying Arts and Culture in Silencing the Guns in Africa.
The event has come just after Iranians concluded the world Cartoon festival on “Applying Arts and Culture in Silencing the Guns in Africa,”
“During the festival, many artists across the globe proved their passion of expressing heartfelt messages aligned with our theme which is to silence the guns in Africa,” said Iran Ambassador to Kenya Jafar Barmaki.
Barmaki said through the festival, the embassy seeks to accelerate calls to action by assimilating 2020 and 2021 themes in culture and heritage while fast-tracking and silencing the guns in Africa.
The festival sought to use art to create awareness about the Africa Union’s initiative to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars.
The festival’s second edition started on December 1, 2020 and drew more than 1,000 participants from across the globe.
Paul Kelemba aka Maddo, who represented five other jurors, said the festival considered 687 entries, which they categorised into Kenyan and international categories.
The third position in the regional category was taken by Andala Boniface Okumu (prize money $200) , second position by Edwin Eric Njue ($300) while the winner was Samuel Muigai aka Igah ($400).
The winners globally were Michael Gomez from Cuba (third position) receiving $2,000, Ares also from Cuba (second position) who got $3,000, while the winner was Carlo Gomez from Brazil, taking home $4,000
The artwork was showcased at an exhibition after the award ceremony and will be available for viewing at the Iran House of Innovation and Technology in Nairobi.
The artwork was showcased at an exhibition after the award ceremony and will be available for viewing at the Iran House of Innovation and Technology in Nairobi.
Through the festival, the Embassy in line with the efforts of African Union has accelerated the two calls to action by assimilating both 2020 and 2021 themes which has enabled a promotion of African culture and heritage while fast-tracking on “Silencing the guns” Initiative.
Barmaki said that in their continued effort to keep the important event alive, and to show their continued support and stand with African Nations, the art festival has given artist all over the world a humble time to participate and cultivate change in addressing both initiative.
“Guns, Guns, Guns ……..Guns are designed to protect lives but can easily turn lethal and destructive when they land into the wrong hands as witnessed from several incidents across the world, “he added.
He added that a thousand people die each day from gunshot wounds, and three times as many are left with severe Injuries. If the death, injury and disability resulting from small arms were categorized as a disease it would qualify as an epidemic.
Africa is well known for its natural beauty and good people, the continent should always remain peaceful as it was before.
“The Islamic republic of Iran remains steadfast in its pursuit of enabling and promoting of an African continent with strong cultural identity, common heritage shared values and ethics that enables her rise above her adversities and achieve peace and development which is also in line with Agenda 2063 of the Africa n Union aims to end all wars and violent conflicts on the continent “he added.