Legal art or artistic law

The law never emerged, it developed. It is not static, and despite being written, is not always clear. Hence the different ways in which it can be interpreted. This article emanates from a conversation held during the Symposium on the role of creative arts in social transformation held at Kabarak University in January 2022. The theme was based on Professor Willy Mutunga’s chapter, ‘The role of creative arts in social transformation’ in Furthering constitutions, birthing peace: Liber amicorum Yash Pal Ghai (2021). Joining in this conversation was Godfrey ‘Gado’ Mwapembwa, the expert cartoonist, and faculty and students of the Schools of Law and Music. This article reflects upon their sentiments expressed at this Symposium, which championed the values of interdisciplinary research. The article discusses criminal liability of actions committed by actors while in character, the need for humility in the legal profession, the right to freedom of expression and artistic creativity. It goes further to look at the need for and actions towards integration of the disciplines. This article anchors its argument on the need for respect among professions. It emphasises the importance of and need for all disciplines as bearers of solutions to societal problems.