Tupumue ("Let's Breathe!" in Swahili) is an international research project investigating children's lung health, lived experiences, and air pollution exposure in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Tupumue study compared two communities, Mukuru, an informal settlement, and the neighbouring, more affluent area of BuruBuru. Researchers found that children in both areas are exposed to air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organisation guidelines, with exposures and respiratory symptoms significantly higher in Mukuru.
Air pollution is a leading public health concern, with the heaviest burdens impacting low- and middle-income countries. In informal settlements, exposure is often intensified by emissions from industry, dust, and the burning of waste and household fuels such as plastics.
Tupumue was co-created with local people. Academics, community members and local artists co-designed a suite of inclusive and culturally relevant arts-based activities to inform, build trust and boost engagement.
Our arts-based approach gave communities agency and rooted the research in local culture. It also highlighted the urgent need for action, not only in Nairobi, but for the hundreds of millions of children worldwide growing up in informal settlements affected by air pollution.
Professor Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth
Among these was the puppet show 'Billy's Day Out', which brought the Tupumue data collection process to life to help potential participants feel at ease. Through music, theatre, and visual arts delivered across a variety of community settings, the project successfully recruited more than 2,300 children.
Professor Cressida Bowyer , Deputy Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth added: "Our arts-based approach gave communities agency and rooted the research in local culture. It also highlighted the urgent need for action, not only in Nairobi, but for the hundreds of millions of children worldwide growing up in informal settlements affected by air pollution."
Art served not only as a communication tool but as a key method of data collection. Children created drawings that reflected their own perceptions of lung health and air pollution, illustrating themselves or others with "sick lungs," as well as everyday scenes from their journeys to and from school that they believed might affect their breathing.
Lung health was measured through questionnaires and spirometry, while air quality was monitored in homes, schools, and outdoor environments to estimate children's exposure to fine particulate matter. The findings showed a clear link between respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and exposure to dust, fumes, smoke from burning refuse, and adult smoking in the home.
The exhibition features highlights from the project, including 'Billy the puppet', the Plastic Monster Jitu La Taka, mural and comic book artwork, and a music video created during the study. "This exhibition brings to life how the arts can be used to research the lived experiences behind the scientific data," said Dr Louis Netter. "By working with communities and artists, we were able to build trust, uncover new insights, and ensure that children's voices were at the centre of the research."
The Tupumue exhibition is free and open to the public at the University of Portsmouth from 30th October - 27th November 9am-5pm at The Reflectory, Ground Floor, Eldon Building, Winston Churchill Avenue.
