Benjamin Daviruka, Nakivale Young Refugee Artist

It is not an understatement to say that his art blew us all away.

It’s Day 40 of 61 of the Small Art, Big Heart art and storytelling series. It feels like a milestone. I have three weeks left to go! Do you think I can do it?

My gratitude goes out to the Nakivale Young Talent Community artists who don’t mind me drawing them. In fact, I promised I would draw all of them but that I would not forewarn them so they could enjoy the element of surprise.

Today (actually it’s late, late at night), I drew Benjamin Daviruka who is a 19-year Congolese refugee artist living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Benjamin was a last minute addition to the June 1st Young Nakivale Refugee Artist Expo. It is not an overstatement to say that his art blew us all away.

Note: I hope to update this post later with more information about Benjamin. His bio was not at my proverbial fingertips at the time of writing!

Benjamin presented his piece called “Bad in Good” in graphite. He told us that he was playing with the idea that just like the yin and yang, bad and good are complementary. And, while lying is seen as bad it may actually be good in that some lies are important to maintain relationships. We can never truly know the shoes that someone else walks in.

Benjamin continues to paint breath-taking work, like this large-scale acrylic (title of this piece unknown at time of writing).

And, this piece which he calls “Memorie of Motion” which he painted for the UNHCR-hosted World Refugee Day celebration in June 2024.

In Benjamin’s own words, here is the meaning of the piece…

If you would like to support the work of Benjamin, we are offering originals and prints of his paintings for sale. You can also purchase a print or merchandise with his artwork on the RedBubble site I set up for the Nakivale Artists. Currently, his piece “Bad in Good” is uploaded. “Memorie of Motion” is not far behind.

If you’re enamored with the art of the Nakivale artists that I’ve showcased so far and want to help keep them producing, you can help them by making a one-time contribution to the Tip Jar I set up for them. All donations go to purchase supplies and materials to keep them painting (and selling art to feed themselves, their families and make a better future for themselves) and teaching art to the next generation of Nakivale artists.

Join the Nakivale Young Refugee Artist Support Circle

Here is another fun, art-filled way to support the Nakivale Artists. You can join the Young Refugee Artist Support Circle at my Creative Convergence substack. All paid subscriptions ($8/month) on that Substack will be used to support the material and supply costs and a lunch program to feed one art student per month. Read more here!

Join the Circle: Empower Nakivale Young Refugee Artists

Thank you for reading RainMakers & ChangeMakers! The days are coming at me fast and furious. But I have a lot of interesting ChangeMakers in the queue yet to share! Also, I hope that some of the RainMakers will lose their shyness and let me highlight them as well. You know who you are!

Three weeks left!

Anyone placing bets whether I can finish?