Community art for violence prevention in Africa: a review of the literature

Objectives To synthesise the use of community art for violence prevention in Africa, and identify implications for policy, practice, and research. Study design Narrative review of published and grey literature. Methods Six academic databases and targeted grey literature sources were searched. Eligible studies were appraised using established mixed-methods and grey literature appraisal tools. Study characteristics, outcomes, and implementation factors were synthesised using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results Of 741 identified sources, 19 met inclusion criteria, representing all African regions. Interventions primarily addressed gender-based and collective violence, particularly ethno-religious conflict. Narrative edutainment (film and audio) and forum theatre were the most commonly used approaches and showed promise in raising awareness, shifting norms, and fostering community dialogue, particularly when culturally relevant, accessible, and locally led. However, the evidence base was mixed. Many interventions were limited by short duration, entrenched social norms, low visibility, and weak cross-sectoral collaboration and system integration. Few studies reported sustained behaviour change, reductions in violence, or policy impact. Conclusions Despite mixed evidence, community art demonstrates potential to support violence prevention in Africa, particularly at early stages of prevention. Existing evidence supports piloting well-designed community art interventions that prioritise broad and accessible reach; active engagement through dialogue; culturally relevant, immersive content; and local leadership with sustained institutional support—within broader violence prevention strategies—alongside additional, rigorous implementation science application and evaluation.