I found these articles on Kenyan culture and thought I’d group them into one blog.
It’s Nice That spoke to Kennedy Mirema about his work shining a light on Kenya’s cultural richness:
Throughout Kennedy’s creative direction there is an immediate bonding of people and landscape, greatly owed to his focus on curation at every turn; creating looks that are both innovative and reflective of the individual personalities. His process typically starts with a research period where he immerses himself in the client’s backdrop, and current trends taking over the industry, before a period of cohesion where he hones in on visual narrative. This technique allows us to see beyond the adornments of fashion and heed the cultural contexts beneath them; why does this clothing meld with that convenience store? Why does the flowy linen assortment belong on those sandy shores?
Colossal on Thandiwe Muriu’s new book celebrating the multi-faceted beauty of Kenyan culture:
In each photo, the photographer either positions a small group or stands against a boldly patterned Ankara backdrop. Also known as African wax prints, these colorful textiles were first introduced to the continent by the Dutch in the 19th century and are still common for garments and accessories today. Muriu and her subjects always wear clothing identical to their surroundings, literally camouflaging their bodies into a backdrop loaded with cultural and colonial history.
JSTOR Daily on the Jamia Masjid in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, built for Punjabi migrants brought to Africa by the British which now serves Kenya’s Muslim population:
The Jamia Masjid in Nairobi is an impressive sight. Located in the central business district of the bustling city, the mosque boasts striking domes and minarets that might call to mind the Taj Mahal. As art historian Steven Nelson writes, the story of how the building was designed that way offers a window into the complicated cultural exchanges within the British Empire.