Tuna Kiwango? Series
(Part of the ‘Representation’ Collection)
2022, digital photomontage, 420 x 297 mm
(Tuna Kiwango?: ‘Do we have standards?’ in Swahili)
The works in this series strive to reveal the individuals hidden behind the headlines about/from Africa. I have meticulously crafted newspaper covers that superimpose masks over portraits of African women, captured by exceptional African photographers. These covers feature six thought-provoking articles that aim to illuminate, critique, and educate on different aspects of the continent. They shed light on crucial topics that have been deliberately overlooked or distorted by much of the world when it comes to our narrative.
The ‘Representation’ collection draws inspiration from the quote, “The worth of their lives is measured by headlines,” whose origin remains unknown. This quote resonates with me as I recognise how the media often perpetuates bias by focusing on a single narrative for certain groups of people. Through this collection, I aim to shed light on the overlooked aspects of misrepresented individuals and their stories, offering a fresh perspective that challenges prevailing stereotypes.
