A Portrait in Time - a Changing Community
Link to project
With just a distance of 8 kilometers from the ever changing realities of Nairobi's metropolis, Kenya’s main capital, the backyard of the central business center - One of Africa’s fastest developing cities is facing a human movement impact. Nairobi is growing at a high speed with major governmental infrastructure projects completed and ongoing. How are the people being removed from the localities find new places to call home again? Located near Ngong forest, Kenya's main water catchment area - the disruptions and movement of people across Nairobi’s urban areas is causing havoc in one of Kenya’s forested areas, Ngong Forest.
This project explores the elements of a changing community and the decisive factors affecting the lives of the people involved. A special focus is the divisive elements of policies in the housing system and access to social facilities among the internally displaced communities in these uncertain times even during the pandemic and its after effects. The pressure on the human population is also causing pressures to local natural resources. Born in Kibera, the sense of place we used to have as young men growing up here has changed a lot mostly due to new structures, access, security and, affordability.
With increased social injustice issues such as forceful evictions and, without compensations, even within the pandemic, families struggled to find even temporary shelters to call home. As the country (Kenya) is headed to the elections, factors such as community development and land rights have become vital and will play some role in the 2022 Kenya elections in these local communities. Across major populous areas in Nairobi- major infrastructural changes are occurring sometimes to the benefit of the few who can afford. Will the efforts of integration empower communities more?
Reaching Equality Through Fashion - Youth and Community change
Born and bred in Nairobi in the slums of Kibera and only 24. David Avido has dressed celebrities and influencers from all walks of life including the president of Kenya through his fashion brand Lookslike Avido. Avido was one of 68 Kenyans recognized by the President of Kenya with the Uzalendo Award for outstanding service during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Avido spearheaded a free mask initiative that provided nearly 23,000 free, reusable masks to Nairobi residents. He has also worked with friends and partners to distribute food packs to hundreds of families in Kibera. As a dancer, he’s aware of how difficult it can be for some groups to be appreciated on what they’re doing. People’s abilities are beyond what you can see physically, he has seen that and he wants people from his community to see it too.
Style, Identity and Dreams
Community Project link to project
'Style, identity, and dreams' capture the cultural awakening among the young people in low-income communities in Nairobi through their general /overall representation in the community. Via influences such as hairstyles, clothing, and possessed accessories. Young people have shifted the narrative of their perception of the community they live.
DW - Constructive Journalism Fellowship Project
Community Solutions to a Pandemic link to project
My photography visual project explores how community organizations are reinventing themselves to serve their community better especially during the pandemic. Kibera is a community that is highly populated, social community issues like access to healthcare and basic services remain one of the community’s obstacles in terms of development.
Reinventing and Adapting Through Coronavirus
East Africa Photography Awards - 2020
This photography project shows the efforts made by Kibera community amidst the pandemic. Despite the imminent threats of coronavirus faced due to population size, local organizations and individual acts of kindness made sure that we were not going to face the worse of the situation. Faced with a pandemic, lock downs, and the thoughts of where to get the next meal, individuals came together, organizations restructured and adopted new ways of serving its community. And when individual efforts were needed, fashion designers, philanthropists, artists, and midwives stepped up. Temporarily leaving their usual stamping grounds and willingly serving their skills for the better good and mostly without pay. The project is geared towards showing how a community has been over the years miss-narrated when there are occurrences of national and global social issues, acting as a hotpot for hyped photos of suffering. Born and raised in Kibera, I've never seen this community coming together like now.
