NORTH MACEDONIA: Streetart Skopje - Čair - Arhiepiskop Angelarij 7 - Wall of Peace - DAKO G, JETMIR ASANI & VALON KUCI

Let’s build peace together, let’s have freedom, justice and true equality!

The bazaar in Skopje is a historic district that combines Ottoman, Byzantine, and modern architecture. In 2008, the Macedonian parliament recognized the Old Bazaar as a cultural heritage site. In 2010, a program was launched to revitalize the Old Bazaar, and in addition to new shops and facilities, a variety of urban artworks were also created. The Wall of Peace was probably one of the first major works in the streets. Time and again, hate speech and intolerant slogans were spray-painted on the walls, especially against Macedonians and Albanians, the two largest ethnic minorities in the country.

On September 21st in 2021, on the International Peace Day, JETMIR ASANI, member of EDYN North Macedonia, VALON KUCI from THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, and professional graffiti artist DASTID DAUTI aka DAKO G repainted the wall and renamed it the “Wall of Peace.” Instead of hate speech, the wall now displays portraits of Martin Luther King Jr., Emma Goldman, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, spreading messages of peace, equality, freedom, and justice. They were supported in this endeavor by the peace action organization MIROVNA AKCIJA and later even by the mayor, who, after meeting with the three, decided to rename the street where the mural is located “Road of Peace“.

The work not only conveys an important message of reconciliation and encourages people to find common ground instead of listening to negative input. It is also a great collaboration between people from the fields of socio-cultural engagement, political activism, and artistic creativity. It is worth browsing the websites of EDYN, the EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC YOUTH NETWORK, which carries out many other interesting projects. When visiting the bazaar, be sure to check out the wall and take a break at the café in front for a snack or drink.