In a powerful call to action at the Global Artivism Conference, Comrade Kehinde Adegboyega, Executive Director of the Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJNN), has urged filmmakers and activists worldwide to harness the medium of film as an indispensable weapon in the fight for justice and human rights.
Adegboyega joined other global thought leaders in Salvador, Brazil, for the Second Global Artivism Convening, taking place from November 3 to 5, 2025. The event gathers artists, filmmakers, and activists who use creative expression as a force for social justice and transformation.
The Global Artivism Convening 2025 centers on exploring practical approaches through which storytelling can strengthen human rights movements, build solidarity, and influence global narratives on justice and equality. Participants are expected to share innovative strategies for connecting art and activism across borders.
Adegboyega, who is also the co-founder of the Africa International Human Rights Film Festival (AIHRFF), is one of the distinguished facilitators at the international gathering. He is leading a workshop titled “Film for Change: Designing Your Own Impact Strategy” a session aimed at equipping filmmakers, journalists, and advocates with tools to develop powerful storytelling strategies that inspire civic engagement and policy reform.
The workshop, held in partnership with Ooto Ooto Impact Production, Bombozila, and Casa Doc, explores the transformative role of film and media in advancing human rights advocacy across communities. Adegboyega emphasised that film, when strategically deployed, can serve as a potent medium for social change and justice.
“Across Africa, we’ve seen documentaries ignite difficult but necessary conversations on corruption, police brutality, gender justice, and governance,” he said. “When stories are consciously crafted, film becomes an act of resistance, a catalyst for justice and collective healing.”
Adegboyega noted that the themes of the convening align with the vision and programming of the upcoming 4th edition of the Africa International Human Rights Film Festival, scheduled to hold in December in Lagos, Nigeria. According to him, both platforms share a focus on amplifying creative advocacy and fostering global collaboration among storytellers.
“This year, we are consolidating storytelling as a tool with the need for collaboration, resilience, and acceleration of our interventions and advocacies to document and hold power to account,” he stated. He added that creative media continues to play an essential role in shaping public consciousness and empowering communities to demand accountability.
Expressing appreciation to the organisers, Adegboyega commended the recognition of African voices in global artivism spaces, noting that their inclusion reinforces the continent’s growing impact in shaping international discourse on human rights and social transformation.
“As storytellers, we have a duty to ensure that human suffering is never normalised and that every story told helps bend the moral arc closer to justice,” Adegboyega affirmed.
The HRJNN director reiterated the organisation’s commitment to using creative media, advocacy, and strategic dialogue to advance justice, equity, and democratic accountability across Africa and beyond.