Through Uso (meaning ‘face’ in Swahili), the artist honours ‘the black nod”. The nod that we, black people, use to acknowledge each other, just because we’re black in areas where there are a few of us. This subtle gesture also represented through an eyebrow lift or a subtle smile, translates to “Hey! I see you! I see myself in you, and I am glad to see you here! All the best, take care!“

This instant connection and kinship are like no other. That innate way of seeing ourselves in each other and celebrating it in a few seconds is an act that brings the artist joy as an African in the diaspora.

So through this piece, the artist reflects her face with those of 14 African women from 14 of the more than 300 different African tribes that she sees herself in and shares an unspoken kinship with, no matter where she is in the world.