The Good Ancestors Club: Art and Climate Justice in Action

THE GOOD ANCESTOR CLUB (Kenya & Wales)

This is a Black-led artist club, that acts as an activator/disruptor for creative, collaborative and decolonised activism funded by Arts Council Wales. This artist club will explore climate and nature through an international lens, focusing on Wales and Africa.The Climate Crisis is highlighting pre-existing inequalities:

The carbon footprint of Western powers is the main contributor to climate change.
Consumerism in the West is a cultural boundary to meaningful change.
Global South countries are under the greatest threat from climate change.
Nature movements are predominantly Western led, operating from within Western cultural norms and structures.
Climate change is disproportionately impacting marginalised communities with the fewest resources to cope.

Diaspora communities feel the impact of climate change on two fronts: in Wales and among the communities they come from. It impacts them financially and emotionally as they continue to support family and friends abroad. We want to claim a central space in combating the Nature Emergency, using soft power to nurture Black-led creative and decolonised action.

Nature does not move along national boundaries, the Climate and Nature Emergency affects all species of plants and animals (including us humans) all across the globe. We will work with artists and partners to explore the global Nature Emergency both locally and in a global context.

The Club will:

Explore the Nature Emergency from a decolonised and Black-led perspective.
Give nature a voice and develop nature-centric narratives.
Coordinate creative artist-led activism; host community arts, interventions and themed events, performances and exhibitions.
Connect artists with stakeholders (charities, education, government) to collaborate on nature projects and amplify messages.
Create space for knowledge sharing and debate; host training, talks and deliver workshops.
Help artists to develop carbon-neutral creative practice.
Communicate with the wider public through art; raise awareness but also spread hope and calls to action.
Raise engagement with the environment and climate among marginalised communities; host events and workshops in nature.

THE GOOD ANCESTOR PROJECT 2025

The Good Ancestor Project brought together three artists (Paskaline, Jean Samuel & Darch) and Mukuru Collective in Kenya to explore climate and nature through an international, decolonised lens, with a focus on Wales and Africa. Rooted in the Black-led Artist Club, this project served as an activator space for creative, collaborative activism that centres the voices and experiences of marginalised communities.

Through art, dialogue, and shared learning, the project aimed to challenge the sense of helplessness that can arise in the face of environmental destruction. By creating space for emotional expression, cultural exchange, and critical reflection, it empowered participants to transform feelings of grief, frustration, and disconnection into meaningful action for climate justice.

The project not only strengthened the bonds between artists and communities across continents but also fostered a deeper understanding of the cultural and ecological impacts of land exploitation. It encouraged participants to reimagine their role as Good Ancestors — individuals who actively work towards protecting the planet for future generations.

Together, art, activism, and global solidarity became powerful tools for inspiring resilience, action, and environmental justice.

Paskaline Maiyo (Cheb Arts)

For this initiative, Paskaline created three original body art pieces, exploring the deep interconnection between humans, nature, and wildlife. Through powerful visual storytelling, the works communicate that none can thrive in isolation, reflecting themes of environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and the delicate balance required for ecological survival.

“Interwoven Earth’, A balance of Land, water, and life”, Cheb Arts, 23rd January,2025. Photography by Ndotenyin Godwin; Models; Amelia, Samar & Rianna:

The first model embodies nature’s resilience, with a tree painted across her body and her hair extending into branches. The ground beneath her is cracked and painted in shades of brown, symbolizing erosion and depletion. Her roots extend from her shoulder, seamlessly connecting to the second model in the center.The central model represents Earth itself, positioned as the core of human existence. Her body is painted with the continents of Africa and Asia, surrounded by vast strokes of blue to symbolize the planet’s water. The roots from the first model intertwine with her, emphasizing the deep connection between land and life.On the right, the third model represents the ocean’s thriving ecosystem, her body adorned with vibrant coral reefs and shades of deep blue. The coral reefs extend onto the central model’s shoulder, illustrating the interdependence of land and sea. Her vivid colors signify a protected and flourishing underwater world, vital for sustaining marine life.The background is a rich blue, illuminated by beams of light with patches of red-orange, representing fire and energy. This glow highlights the interconnectedness of human life and nature, reinforcing the urgent need for balance—less deforestation, more conservation, and a commitment to safeguarding both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Together, the three models symbolize the harmony the Earth requires for a sustainable future.

“A Body of E-art-h’, Cheb Arts, 3rd January 2025; Photography by Ndotenyin Godwin'; Model: Timi Kolan

This artwork visually explores the deep interconnection between humanity and the natural world, emphasizing the vital role of water, air, wildlife, and biodiversity in sustaining life. Each painted element symbolizes a crucial part of our ecosystem, reinforcing the urgent need for climate awareness and protection.A flowing stream of blue water runs from the head down to the lower stomach, representing water as the lifeblood of the planet. Hills and mountains on either side ground the composition in nature’s vast landscapes. An eagle soaring near the head symbolizes the presence of birds in the sky, while a lion on the left shoulder represents the power and vulnerability of wildlife. A vibrant peacock, its radiant colors signifying the beauty of biodiversity, rests upon the lungs, a reminder of the air we all depend on.On the right side of the chest, a mother cradling her baby represents continuity, nurturing, and the responsibility we hold for future generations—an idea central to The Good Ancestor Project. Near the lower stomach, a dolphin glides through the water, symbolizing the importance of marine ecosystems and the urgent need for their protection.Each element is intentionally placed over vital organs, reinforcing the message that environmental destruction directly impacts human survival. This piece serves as a powerful reminder that nature, wildlife, and people are deeply intertwined—one cannot thrive without the other. Through art, The Good Ancestor Project calls for a collective effort to preserve and protect our planet for the generations to come.

Jean Samuel Mfikela

The Common People Against Climate Change

Through painting and film, this project creatively educates ordinary people on their crucial role in tackling climate change, protecting nature, and promoting sustainable living. Many believe climate change is only for scientists or experts — this project challenges that idea by showing how everyday actions, both in Wales and Africa, can make a real difference.

The project has three stages:

Stage 1: A large, abstract figurative painting (120 x 100 cm) highlighting positive, climate-friendly practices by ordinary people. Welsh scenes will show solar-powered homes, electric transport, waste management, and plant-based living. African villages will feature solar panels, labelled waste bins near streams, tree planting, and repairing items to reduce waste.
Stage 2: A short, 15-minute film documenting the making of the painting and its key messages, connecting the artwork to the project’s theme — empowering ordinary people to act against global warming.
Stage 3: The painting will be exhibited at NWAS Centre in Bangor and online. It will also inspire a climate awareness painting workshop for young people.

Y Clwb Hynafiaid Da: Cyfiawnder Hinsawdd a Chelf ar Waith

1. Clwb Cyfiawnder Hinsawdd (Kenya a Chymru)

Mae hwn yn glwb artistiaid dan arweiniad pobl Dduon, sy'n gweithredu fel actifydd/amharydd dros actifiaeth greadigol, gydweithredol, sydd wedi’i dad-drefedigaethu, sydd yn cael ei ariannu gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Bydd y clwb artistiaid hwn yn archwilio newid hinsawdd a natur trwy lens rhyngwladol, ac yn
canolbwyntio ar Gymru a Chyfandir Affrica.

Mae'r Argyfwng Hinsawdd yn pwysleisio'r anghydraddoldebau sydd yn bodoli’n
barod:

Ôl-troed carbon pwerau’r Gorllewin ydy prif gyfrannwr newid hinsawdd.
Mae prynwriaeth yn y Gorllewin yn ffin ddiwylliannol ar gyfer newid ystyrlon.
Gwledydd y De Byd-eang sydd fwyaf dan fygythiad yn sgil newid hinsawdd.
Mae mudiadau natur yn bennaf dan arweiniad y Gorllewin, ac yn gweithredu o fewn normau a strwythurau diwylliannol y Gorllewin.
Mae newid hinsawdd yn effeithio’n andwyol ar gymunedau wediu hymyleiddio, sydd â’r adnoddau lleiaf i ymdopi.
Mae cymunedau diaspora yn teimlo effaith newid hinsawdd ar ddwy ongl:
Nghymru ac ymhlith y cymunedau maen nhw'n dod ohonynt. Mae'n effeithio arnynt ar lefel ariannol ac emosiynol, wrth iddynt barhau i gefnogi teulu a ffrindiau dramor.
Rydym eisiau hawlio man canolog o ran gwrthsefyll yr Argyfwng Natur, gan ddefnyddio cymell tawel i feithrin gweithredu dad-drefedigaethol a chreadigol dan arweiniad pobl Dduon.

Dydy natur ddim yn symud ar hyd ffiniau cenedlaethol, mae'r argyfwng Hinsawdd a Natur yn effeithio ar bob rhywogaeth, o blanhigion a mwynau (gan gynnwys ni fel pobl) ar draws y byd. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda gwyddonwyr a phartneriaid i archwilio'r argyfwng Natur yn lleol ac o fewn cyd-destun byd-eang. Bydd y Clwb yn cyflawni’r canlynol:

Archwilio'r Argyfwng Natur o safbwynt dad-drefedigaethol a dan arweiniad pobl Dduon.
Rhoi llais i natur a datblygu naratifau sy’n canolbwyntio ar natur.
Cyd-drefnu actifiaeth greadigol dan arweiniad artistiaid; cynnal digwyddiadau celfyddydau cymunedol, ymyriadau a digwyddiadau â thema, perfformiadau ac arddangosfeydd.
Cysylltu artistiaid gyda rhanddeiliaid (elusennau, addysg, llywodraeth) i gydweithio ar brosiectau natur, a rhoi mwy o sylw i negeseuon.
Creu gofod ar gyfer rhannu gwybodaeth a thrafod; cynnal hyfforddiant, sgyrsiau a darparu gweithdai.
Darparu cymorth i artistiaid ddatblygu ymarfer creadigol carbon-niwtral
Cyfathrebu gyda’r cyhoedd ehangach drwy gelf; codi ymwybyddiaeth ond hefyd, lledaenu gobaith a galwadau i weithredu.
Cael cymunedau wedi'u hymyleiddio i ymrwymo mwy gyda’r amgylchedd a'r hinsawdd; cynnal digwyddiadau a gweithdai mewn natur.