One voice, multiple genres to condemn gender-based violence

On any given day, 29-year-old Laurriette Rota is either in the studio recording her music or out in forum campaigning against gender-based violence (GBV).

Early this December, she brought together artistes from different genres to speak in one voice against the vice.

In an event held at the Little Theatre Club in Mombasa, and dubbed ‘Art Against Abuse’, Ms Rota provided a platform for poems, songs and dance, spoken word and art exhibition to condemn GBV.

Speaking in one voice, the artistes made presentations on gender based violence experiences and how survivors have dealt with their situations.

A survivor of GBV herself, Ms Rota says her experience drove her to start the campaign in a bid to help those going through difficult situations to overcome and encourage them to take action before things get out of hand.

“I was in a relationship for a year before we parted ways. The first six months were good, love was evident but then things took a twist. My partner spoke of my weaknesses all the time, he once even questioned how I became a fashion model with my dark skin. I started losing confidence and even the music that I wrote was mostly about break-ups and my producers got concerned,” she recalls, saying she was in an emotionally abusive relationship that destroyed her self-esteem.

Ms Rota says before long, her partner turned violent.

“Most victims of abuse get into a cycle where they accept violence as a way of life. This encourages their abusers who get more and more vicious and that is why most victims end up dead,” she says, adding that when her partner assaulted her, he was remorseful and she forgave him.

Through ‘Art Against Abuse’ which was formed in 2014, survivors of gender-based violence also get counselling services to support their journey of recovery.