Mudadi Saidi is a Congolese-born author, poet, visual artist, and refugee advocate based in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. Born in Uvira, South Kivu (DR Congo) in 1994, Mudadi’s life and artistic journey have been deeply shaped by conflict and displacement. He was first internally displaced during the 1998 Congo war and later fled his country in 2014, resettling in Kakuma.

Mudadi discovered his passion for writing and art at a young age. At just 11 years old, he gained recognition after publishing his first poem, Identity. During his college years, he released his first booklet, Le Sang Noir (The Black Blood), which explored themes of war, massacres, and kidnapping that had devastated his family and community in Eastern Congo. Since then, he has published several works, including My Memories and My Back, À qui l’amour?, Au-revoir Sâlim, and My Daily Thoughts.

Alongside writing, Mudadi built his career as a visual artist and painter. In 2016, he studied journalism and photography with FilmAid International, publishing articles in Refugee Magazine (issues 11 and 12). He later joined the Artists for Refugees (A4R) project with the Danish Refugee Council, where he trained under Kenyan artist Nyaga John and political cartoonist Victor Ndula in perspective drawing and comic art. He also trained in mobile news reporting with Deutsche Welle Academy, gaining valuable experience in media production.

In the same year, he founded Royal Art Center, a youth-led initiative he financed personally to train fellow refugees in art. Fifteen young people took part in the program before it paused due to lack of resources. Building on this spirit, Mudadi has since developed two flagship projects: Art Yetu (established in 2019), a youth empowerment initiative using visual arts to nurture talent among displaced and marginalized youth, and Nyota Ya Msanii (“Star of the Artist”), a competition that gives young creatives the opportunity to showcase their work and gain recognition.

Mudadi’s artistic and advocacy work has earned him recognition both locally and internationally. He is a World Summit Awards Youth Ambassador, a laureate of the Finding Futures Contest (Art Category), and has been awarded by FIND. His artwork, poetry, and research all focus on amplifying refugee voices, promoting dignity, and using creativity as a tool for social change. He has attending and exhibiting at Art for Peace in the Washington D.C.

Beyond the arts, Mudadi has contributed to research and community initiatives. He has served as Field Research Facilitator and Advisor at the Centre for Research on Peace and Development, and as Research Assistant for the TMSS (Traveling Memories, Silences and Secrets) project on refugees from the Great Lakes region. His unique perspective as both a displaced person and a researcher allows him to bridge lived realities with academic and policy discussions.

Professionally, Mudadi has worked with organizations including FilmAid Kenya, the Norwegian Refugee Council, StepUp.One, and Peace Winds, building experience in humanitarian programming, community engagement, and creative production.

At the heart of Mudadi’s vision is the belief that art is not just creativity, but a catalyst for change. For him, art is passion, expression, and life itself: “Without art, the world would be empty—heART, eARTh.” Through his work, he embodies the resilience and creativity of displaced communities, proving that refugees are not defined by borders, but by their dreams, talents, and contributions to society.