[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's Arts and Peace Talk in Zambia

Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The  DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.

Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.

How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.

Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.

Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.

I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.

Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's Arts and Peace Talk in Zambia :)

HWPL Zambia: From Pieces to Peace… Becoming One Through Dialogue and Art

An interfaith and art-based peace event titled “Art & Peace Talk Zambia: Zambia Moves Us from Pieces to Peace” was held on April 22 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Ibex Hill, Lusaka.

The event was co-hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) Zambia Branch and MUZU Arts Collective, with the participation of the National Guidance and Religious Affairs (NGRA), and co-organized by Family Development Initiatives (FDI) and the Zambia Interfaith Networking Group (ZINGO).

In line with the “Brand Zambia Initiative,” launched in March by President Hakainde Hichilema, which emphasizes national unity and social cohesion, the event was held as a participatory program combining dialogue and artistic expression, bringing together religious leaders, youth, and community members. Participants experienced the process of coming together as individual “pieces” to form collective “peace,” while exploring new approaches to sustainable peacebuilding.

  

The program began with a Collective Peace Artwork activity where participants visually expressed peace. Participation began even before the official program, as attendees filled a large canvas with colors, experiencing the idea of “creating peace together.” In addition, artworks by MUZU Arts Collective and participants were displayed at the venue, allowing attendees to visually engage with the meaning of peace through various pieces.

In the opening remarks, HWPL emphasized that “peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of solidarity, dialogue, and mutual respect,” highlighting the role of art as a tool that transcends language and connects people in the process of building peace.

This was followed by praise and prayer sessions from different religious traditions. Christian choir performances and Islamic nasheed were presented in the same space, demonstrating that despite differences in faith and expression, the shared aspiration for peace can unite people. This moment went beyond a performance, symbolizing harmony among diverse beliefs.

The core session of the event, the interfaith dialogue, featured representatives from Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, and Hinduism, who addressed the question: “What is the key connection that enables people from different backgrounds to become one?”

Sheikh Yussuf Ayami (Islam, Team Leader of Family Development Initiatives) emphasized that universal values such as respect, compassion, and justice—rooted in shared humanity—connect people. Swami Divyabodhananda (Hinduism, Representative of Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre) explained that unity does not require sameness, but arises from a deeper connection, presenting the concept of spiritual oneness beyond religious and cultural differences.

Participants further shared diverse perspectives on the meaning and practice of peace, building consensus across religions and generations. Mr. Victor Kagoli, Director of the Public Health Department of Lusaka City Council and Director of Lusaka City Junior Council, highlighted that peace is a key determinant of community health, stating that “communities that are united, inclusive, and respectful are healthier and more resilient.”

Since 2017, HWPL has continued interfaith dialogue through its World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Office, building a foundation for cooperation among religions. This event demonstrated the potential of a new form of peace activity that incorporates art, serving as an opportunity for a culture of peace to spread throughout Zambian society beyond religion and community boundaries.

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/