Graffiti artists in Senegal are using their art to raise awareness about the situation in Palestine and Lebanon by painting supportive messages on the walls of Dakar in response to Israeli attacks. The initiative is a collaboration between the Panafrican Graffiti Artists Collective (RBS) and the Anti-Apartheid African Artists group, who chose the busy streets of Ouakam to showcase their work.
The graffiti features powerful symbols of Palestinian resistance, including the iconic character Hanzala, resistance figure Leila Khaled, journalist Bisan Owda, and the renowned Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. These visuals, along with boycott messages, aim to bring attention to the Palestinian cause.
Serigne Mansour Fall, also known as “Madzoo,” president of RBS and one of the graffiti artists, explained that 25 artists completed the murals in a single day with local community support. Fall emphasized that as African artists, they have a duty to reflect their stance on political and geopolitical issues, using their platform to raise awareness and guide the community on such matters.
Fall noted the lack of understanding surrounding the concept of boycotts, sharing an incident where people were surprised by graffiti depicting a soda bottle as a bomb. He stressed the need to explain how consumer choices can influence global conflicts, including the Palestinian resistance. The group plans to continue these awareness-raising efforts with future projects.
Senegal’s connection with Palestine dates back to the 1960s, following its independence from France. The country has been a longstanding supporter of Palestinian independence, with its first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor, playing a key role in diplomatic efforts on the issue. Senegal has also chaired the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People since 1975, and was among the first African nations to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine.
