(Habari: News in Swahili)

A twist on my Tuna Kiwango? Series, through these works, I seek to show how the media should represent these six women and similar women from around the world. I designed the newspaper laid over the portraits to contain six articles that highlight, critique and educate about certain aspects of each woman, their field and their countries, that, unfortunately, most of the world has deliberately chosen to ignore or misinform!

All You Need To Know About Fanta Régina Nacro

Burkina Faso’s Fanta Regina Nacro is well known for being the first woman from the country to direct a feature film and founding member of the Guilde Africaine des Realisateurs et Producteurs (The African Guild of Directors and Producers). She is an artist who explores the themes of African cinema while tackling issues surrounding illness, such as AIDS and education for the girl child. She represents the "New African Wave". Nacro's films tend to question the traditions of Burkina Faso while looking at the relationship between tradition and modernity in today's world.

Why You’ll Never Forget The Name Geraldine Batista Roman

Filipina journalist and politician Geraldine Batista Roman is the first transgender person elected to the Congress of the Philippines. She has served as the Representative of Bataan’s 1st district since 2016.

The First Indigenous Australian To Sit On A United Nations Body

Aboriginal Australian Professor Megan Jane Davis is an activist and international human rights lawyer. She was the first Indigenous Australian to sit on a United Nations body and was Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Davis is Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous, and Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of New South Wales. She is especially known for her work on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The ‘Ice Princess’ Skating Into Greatness

Emirati Zahra Lari is the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East to compete internationally. Lari is a five-time Emirati National Champion. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Emirates Skating Club, the first established figure skating club in the country. She is a dedicated activist for the health and well-being of the UAE society and women in general. Zahra is registered and certified in the UAE National Records for her achievements in serving Society and the State.

Looking To The Sky To Break Barriers

Ecuador’s Hermelinda Urvina Mayorga was the first Ecuadorian and South American woman to obtain a pilot's license. She was an early member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization for women pilots.

There Was No Mountain Too High For Junko Tabei 

Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent. Tabei wrote seven books, organized environmental projects to clean up rubbish left behind by climbers on Everest, and led annual climbs up Mount Fuji for youth affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

This collection and exhibition was my first solo show. The aim of the works was simple but important to me, to recognise and celebrate six remarkable women who are pioneers in different fields. Women who I feel are not well known because most people do not consider their communities as important as others. So, through each colourful piece, I want you to learn about these women and the stories of their people. But more importantly, I want you to ask yourself why you haven’t heard of them before.