The Nigerian Conservation Foundation, University of Lagos (Creative Arts Department), The Metis Fund –Arts and Development, Factory International, Sadler’s Wells, Global Rewilding Alliance, Save the Elephants, and TED Countdown join hundreds of partners across 11 countries to support the new large-scale public art project from the team behind “Little Amal”.
Ambassadors include Brian Eno, Joanna Lumley, Kumi Naidoo, Natalie Dormer, David Oakes, George Monbiot, Afdhel Aziz, Tori Tsui, and Juliet Stevenson.
Herds of life-size puppet animals travelling 20,000km from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, fleeing climate disaster to raise climate change awareness, will make a stop in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Walk Productions today announced world-leading organisations from the fields of arts, science and education as partners for THE HERDS. The new large-scale art project will see herds of life-size puppet animals travel 20,000km from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle fleeing the destruction of their ecosystem, from April – August 2025. It is a public artwork on a scale never before attempted and will vividly dramatize the climate crisis.
As they journey north, the ever-growing herd will stampede into cities across Africa and Europe, passing through DRC, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Spain, France, UK, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with more and more species emerging to join THE HERDS and engage with local partners through specially-curated events with world-class dance companies, theatre makers and artists.
Global climate and arts organisations will join world-leading scientists, artists, zoologists, politicians, climate activists, universities and civil society groups across Central, West and North Africa and Europe to present one united call for action.
Partners announced today include organisations from across 11 countries: Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Qudus Onikeku’s The Q-Dance Company (Nigeria); TED Countdown; Save the Elephants, Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective; Académie des Beaux-Arts (DRC); Blaise Senghor Cultural Center, Fabrice Monteiro, Senegal; High Atlas Foundation, Morocco; La Fura Del Baus, Merlin Producciones, Compañia Nacional de Danza (Spain); Chaillot Théâtre National de la Danse, Studio A+E: Étienne Guiol (France); Art Fund, Factory International, Sadler’s Wells, UAL: Wimbledon College of Arts (UK); The Royal Danish Theater (Denmark); Parkteatern – Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Riksteatern, Sweden and Olavsfest International, Rosendal Teater, (Norway).
The Walk Productions also announced a group of high-profile climate activists that will act as THE HERDS ambassadors, including Kumi Naidoo (human rights and climate justice activist); Brian Eno (musician); Joanna Lumley (actress); Natalie Dormer (actress); David Oakes (actor); George Monbiot (journalist and environmentalist); Afdhel Aziz (author); Juliet Stevenson (actress); and climate justice activists Tori Tsui and Xiye Bastida.
THE HERDS puppets are designed by Ukwanda Puppets and Designs Art Collective in South Africa (Luyanda Nogodlwana, Siphokazi Mpofu, Sipho Ngxola), Craig Leo, Simon Dunckley, Hansie Visagie, Tundra Dunckley and Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi. Each puppet will be crafted using principally recycled materials that are easily accessible in each country. Zoologically accurate, the animals will convey the ferocity and beauty of nature – proud, elegant, highly alarmed, but intensely graceful. THE HERDS sustainability practices are designed in partnership with Hope Solutions and Renew Culture: Theatre Green Book.
THE HERDS is produced by The Walk Productions in association with: Tshoper Kabambi (Kinshasa); A Whitespace Creative Arts Foundation (Lagos); Sarah Desbois (Dakar); Othman Nejmeddine (Morocco); Monica Hamill (Spain); Au Contraire Productions (France); Manchester International Festival (Manchester, UK); Ulrika Josephsson (Sweden) and Olavsfest International (Trondheim, Norway).
In Lagos, Nigeria and every other city where THE HERDS make a stop, large numbers of local people will be trained to replicate and animate the puppets and to take part in large-scale artistic performances specially created along the route. As the animals cross continents, they will grow in number and species, reacting and adapting to the new environment and its challenges, generating a massive participatory event.
Amir Nizar Zuabi, Artistic Director of The Herds, said:
“Our aim is to create an emotional reaction to the climate crisis because we believe this is the only way to make people care. We believe that awe and beauty is the missing spark that leads us from curiosity to change.”
David Lan, Producer of The Herds, said:
“For years climate scientists, aware their data is failing to move the public to action, have asked artists to use their visual and narrative skills to tell the story – the most urgent of our time. THE HERDS is our response.”
Kumi Naidoo, Climate and Human Rights Activist and President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “THE HERDS demonstrates what we can accomplish when creativity meets a steadfast commitment to justice. It embodies the transformative potential of the arts, perfectly aligning with our dedication to a just, equitable and sustainable world.”
Papa Omotayo, CEO of A White Space Creative Arts Foundation, Nigeria, noted: “We are incredibly proud to be part of this ambitious and impactful project. The Herds is a powerful statement about the urgent need to address climate change, and we are honored to be collaborating with such a diverse and talented group of artists and organizations to bring this vital message to life for the vibrant audiences in Lagos and beyond.”
THE HERDS is brought to life with the support of public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, The Backstage Trust, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Art Fund, ArtYard, Frederick Mulder Foundation, JKW Foundation and Maria Björnson Memorial Fund. With generous support from James Armstrong, the Hacking Family, Cheryl Henson, Danielle Lambert, Alexander Leff, Valerie Dillon & Daniel Lewis, Melony & Adam Lewis, Patrick McKenna and Paul Zuckerman.
THE HERDS will be platformed on Bloomberg Connects – the free arts and cultural app powered by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Launched in April 2025, THE HERDS Bloomberg Connects platform will give audiences a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of many of the internationally renowned artists co-creating the public art events for THE HERDS.
