Enjoy this 2.5 minute video of Lionel sharing two of his art pieces. While the audio has been enhanced to hear Lionel, I realize it is challenging to understand all that he says. Soon, these artist videos (of which there are 17!) will receive their proper subtitle treatment. But, I couldn’t wait to share!
Meet Lionel Jospin, age 17, a Burundian refugee living in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda. He is one of the teachers at the Nakivale Young Talent Community (NYTC) which is both a collective of young artists aged 15-22 as well as an arts education center.
Lionel and 9 other artists from NYTC participated in the June 1st Online Young Artist Exhibit that I organized with my co-hosts Akon Deograce (NYTC Co-Founder) and Elijah Astute (GoGreen Social Initiative and Nakivale Arts Collective).
In addition to the two new pieces that Lionel presents in the above video, he has produced several other mind-blowing pieces in graphite, both of which were presented during the June 1st exposition.
Hyperlinks to the titles below redirect to the artpiece page on RedBubble that I set up directly for the artists. Or you can leave a tip for the Nakivale Artists here at a TipTop Jar I have set up for them.
Living Dead
African Giants
Join the Nakivale Artist Support Circle at The Creative Convergence
Lionel is now one of several artists that I have drawn and written about on RainMakers & ChangeMakers. There are many more artists who are creating incredible art and hope to sell their originals to the outside world. While we work on logistics to facilitate the sale and shipment of originals, I am supporting their materials and supplies needs by turning on paid subscriptions at The Creative Convergence, my other Substack. There, I’ve added a special section dedicated to the Nakivale Artists for those who want to follow the trajectory of these incredible artists. 100% of net paid subscriptions will be used to provide materials and supplies to keep artists like Lionel creating. Read more here.
His Family Wanted Him to be a Doctor. Lion’s Heart Danced to a Different Rhythm
Lionel Jospin's journey began in the heart of Burundi, where he was first born in his family. In 2010, under the nurturing skies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lionel embarked on his educational odyssey, with his family's dreams of him donning the white coat of a doctor.
However, Lionel's heart danced to a different rhythm, one painted with the broad strokes of an artist's brush. Despite his parents' dreams, Lionel's passion for art was undying. He yearned to explore the vast canvases of his imagination, to bring his inner visions to life. His pleas to pursue art clashed with the expectations set before him, creating dissonance in his young life.
As Lionel concluded his primary education in 2017 and before he could return to the land of his birth, the DRC was engulfed in the flames of conflict. Amidst the chaos, Lionel and his family fled, their lives uprooted in the search for sanctuary.
They found refuge in Uganda's Nakivale settlement, a place of solace provided by the compassionate hands of UNHCR. In the face of despair, Lionel's spirit remained unbroken.
His quest for artistic mastery led him to the Nakivale Young Talent Community in 2022, where he began to sculpt his future with the delicate touch of a true artist. There, amidst fellow dreamers and creators, Lionel's talent blossomed. Bio written by Akon Deograce of NYTC
Lionel Jospin, Nakivale Refugee Artist