Abstract
In an era of widening health disparities, distrust of public institutions, and entrenched social stigma, the iKnow HIV Awareness Concert Series offered a radically interdisciplinary and transnational model bridging the divide between public health, cultural expression, and international development. Founded in 2014 and operating across Uganda and Rwanda, iKnow integrated the power of music festivals with mobile health infrastructure, academic research, and diplomatic partnerships to deliver HIV testing, reproductive health services, and anti-stigma education to underserved communities. The iKnow initiative reached nearly 400,000 people directly, tested more than 35,000 for HIV, distributed 1 million condoms, and catalyzed local economies through off-season tourism and job creation. This paper critically analyzes the iKnow model as a globally networked, culturally grounded intervention that unites practitioners, policymakers, community leaders, and scholars. Drawing on mixed-methods field research, peer-reviewed studies, and program data, I argue that iKnow functions as a “social vaccine”, a participatory framework that transcends disciplinary silos and geopolitical boundaries to foster systems-level change. The initiative’s alignment with UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, its partnerships with U.S. embassies and East African ministries, and its integration into university curricula combine to offer a compelling case for how interdisciplinary collaboration can confront complex global challenges, especially those involving stigma, health inequality, and civic disengagement. By showcasing music as both message and medium, this presentation invites discussion on how cross-sectoral, arts-driven strategies can advance inclusive development, rebuild trust in institutions, and foster transnational solidarity in an interconnected world.
Presenters
Andrew WardVisiting Assistant Professor, Political Science - International Development, Tulane University, Louisiana, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
HIV AWARENESS, PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION, MUSIC AND DEVELOPMENT, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
