African Photo Magazine Issue #7

Local Perspectives, African Insights 

+ Kenya + Phillda + 

Photography 

Showcasing Kenya’s 

photographers on 

Instagram 

Ragland Njau 

A walk down memory 

lane 

Spotlight on 

Kibera 

“Sanaa ni kioo cha 

jamii” 

[ 

ISSUE 7 

DEC 2017 

[

[ 

04 BAKE 

CONTENTS 

Photography Bloggers of 2017 

16 Phillda Ragland-Njau 

04 30 12 

From first African-American female 

photographer for the Presbyterian 

Church of the United of the United 

States to curator of Paa ya Paa gallery 

22 Spotlight on Kibera 

Kibera’s artists show there is more to 

their home than what is supposed to 

form the “slum menu” 

36 Mekatilili Wa Menza 

Story of a Kenyan warrior 

19 Photoshop Tutorial 

South Africa’s IMAGE magazine with tips 

to better photography 

[ 

[ 

46 Instagram Kenya 

Spotlighting Kenya’s community of 

photographers 

54 Photography Gear 

Cool accessories to take your skills to 

the next level 

62 Lucas Maranga 

A man at 40 

to current times, we say a big ‘hello!’ to the pre 

and post independent period that birthed our 

African photographers. Far too many young 

photographers today, indeed many young 

practitioners in various fields, have a poor grasp 

of the rich history behind their chosen fields 

and the blood, sweat and tears their fore-fathers 

shed to allow them to craft the present. These 

African greats stood up at the dawning of a new 

Africa; as independence movements gathered 

steam in the 1950s and 1960s, a new breed of 

photographer was about to take the stage. 

This publication has the very great honor of 

featuring some of our greats in this edition, 

such as Malick Sidibe of Mali, Mohamed Amin of 

Kenya (now deceased) and Obie Oberholzer of 

South Africa. We have created a “Hall of Framers” 

to showcase the amazing work and talent of 

these greats and will endeavor to feature at least 

one great in every issue we publish ~ they must 

not be forgotten! 

64 

Additionally, in this issue, we feature Canon sponsored 

workshops called Project Miraisha. Since December 2014, 

Canon has facilitated three workshops in Kenya, led by world 

renowned photojournalist and Canon Master Gary Knight. 

With the support of local partners, Canon is using its core 

imaging skills to help local people develop livelihoods in 

professional photography or print. The next workshops are 

slated for Saturday 14th - Friday 20th May, 2016 and will be 

co-hosted with House of Fotography, a local outfit based in 

Nairobi, Kenya. 

As we come to the close of 2017, 

it is only fitting that we do so 

with our 7th issue and with a 

special spotlight on Kenya and its 

photographers, for this magazine 

calls this great nation, home. 

Kenya has also come out of a 

very acrimonious election season 

and it is our fervent prayer that as 

we face the harsh realities of our 

political life as Kenyans, we must 

continue to remind ourselves of 

the goodness that permeates our 

lives every day, and much of that 

goodness is seen in our arts and 

stories as a diverse community of 

peoples. 

We open up the 7th issue saluting 

the 2017 nominees of the Bloggers 

Association of Kenya (BAKE) 

Photographer of the Year category, 

and the ultimate winner, Mutua 

Matheka. The effort it requires to 

consistently produce photographic 

content at a very high standard is 

commendable indeed and you 

have earned our high praise and a 

deserved spot on BAKE’s platform! 

In keeping with our practice of 

reaching back to our past while 

looking forward to our future, we 

are delighted to feature Phillda 

“nollywood” themed exhibition presented by 

LagosPhoto 

The Sony World Photography 

Awards will open for entries on 1st June 

Letter from the Editor 

Ragland-Njau. Phillda was the 

first black woman photographer 

Lastly, we tip off our hats to our African photographers be sent that on overseas mission 

came out tops in the recently concluded assignments SONY and Hamdan by the United 

bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Presbyterian International Church of the United 

Photography Award (HIPA) competitions. States, These are and the in 1969 she came to 

largest photography competitions in the Kenya world and and Africa never looked back. 

took its place amongst the very best. Kudos Phillda’s to our winners! work has been featured 

It is an absolute pleasure The Editor, bring this magazine publications to you and I such as TIME 

trust you Sharon will enjoy Mitchener 

as much as I do! magazine, Jet magazine and 

EBONY. Today, Phillda runs Paa ya 

Paa with her artist husband Elimo 

The Editor, 

Njau, and her contribution to the 

fabric of Kenya’s arts community 

cannot be overstated. Phillda, and 

her husband Elimo Njau are the 

giants of yesteryear and we must 

“Sanaa ni kioo cha jamii 

Art is the reflection of the 

community” 

AFRICANPHOTOMAGAZINE 2 Local Perspectives. African Insights. 

lovingly continue their legacy for 

our posterity. 

The Maasai, the Mara and Kibera 

have pretty much become 

synonymous with the Kenyan 

experience. While the Massai 

and the Mara receive extremely 

favorable coverage, Kibera is often 

depicted as offering a slum menu 

that centres on poverty, crime, tribal 

angst and hopelessness. However, 

“sanaa ni kioo cha jamii” and Kibera 

has a very different story to tell, if 

you care to listen. This publication 

has selected a few of the many 

amazing and inspiring stories being 

created by the very proud residents 

of the ‘slum’. 

Included in this issue is a story of a 

little known Kenyan warrior by the 

name of Mekatilili Wa Menza. This 

masterful depiction of hope, of 

uncompromising faith and of great 

strength was the work of Rich Allela 

(Kenya) and Dapel Kureng (Nigeria). 

These are the stories we must keep 

alive, for our sakes and the sake of 

our children. We must remember 

that we are a great people, with a 

great history and a promising future, 

and that we are the keepers (and 

destroyers) of our shared destiny. It 

is up to us whether we will rise up, 

or fall down. It is up to us, whether 

the battles that Mekatilili Wa Menza 

and her ilk fought were in vain, or 

award 

winners 

were worth the death they so freely 

45 

embraced, for Kenya to stand tall 

as a nation. 

We also celebrate Kenya’s 

photographers featured on 

Instagram under the moniker 

#igKenya and the work they do 

to keep flying the nation’s flag 

high. It would be remiss of us 

to not specifically mention the 

cooperation and enthusiasm we 

received from the team at #igKenya 

while compiling this piece. 

Also in this issue we would like 

to roll out the red carpet for 

Lucas Maranga, our new regular 

contributor, with his blog entitled, 

A Man at 40. We first met Lucas at 

Engage and fell in love with his wit 

and candor. We hope you like him 

as much as we do. 

At the close of 2016 we celebrated 

the 170 year anniversary of PSSA, 

the very first African photographic 

society established by our brothers 

in Cape Town, South Africa, back in 

1846. PSSA publishes a quarterly 

magazine named IMAGE, which 

covers all aspects of the Society’s 

activities and photography in 

general. IMAGE has so very 

graciously come alongside us to 

promote our efforts and in this 

issue has contributed Photoshop 

tutorial techniques we know our 

readers will find most instructive 

and beneficial. 

Lastly, in this issue we share with 

you what we consider interesting 

developments in terms of gear a 

photographer would be interested 

in, and in this issue we look at some 

gadgets one can use to improve 

their photography skills. 

Our next issue will come out in 

early 2018 but in the meantime stay 

connected via our website, http:// 

www.africanphotomag.co.ke/ and 

social media pages. 

Asante Sana, and enjoy! 

pu 

Th 

be 

2 africanphotomagazine ISSUE 7 November 2017 3

BAKE 

nominees for 

the category of 

Photography Blogger 

of the Year 2017 

MUTUA 

MATHEKA 

MWANGI 

KIRUBI 

What is BAKE? 

The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) is a community association of Kenyan 

bloggers and content creators that promotes online content creation & free 

expression in Kenya. BAKE connects blogs in Kenya from all areas of interest 

and expertise. BAKE was formed in 2011 after a series of discussions concerning 

content creation and consumption of online content in Kenya. 

BAKE recognizes the efforts of exceptional bloggers through the BAKE Awards. 

The awards seek to reward bloggers that post on a regular basis, have great 

and useful content, are creative and innovative. These awards represent BAKE’s 

efforts in the promotion of quality content creation. 

BAKE has successfully held the awards for 6 years running since 2012. The 

inaugural BAKE Awards had 14 categories. The categories have increased every 

year and the 6th edition which was held in May 2017 had 23 categories of blogs 

to award. 

This publication proudly features the nominees for the category of Photography 

Blogger of the Year 2017, who have collectively captured our imaginations! 

PETER 

IRUNGU 

VICTOR 

PEACE 

4 africanphotomagazine 

SANAA 

STORY

MUTUA 

MATHEKA 

WINNER OF BAKE 2017 

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 

-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

“When I started photography, I did it 

because it was so much fun to me 

and creating came easier than many 

other things. I didn’t have a subject 

matter which meant I kept looking at 

other photographers here in Nairobi 

to figure out what I wanted to shoot. 

One time a friend took me to the KICC 

rooftop and when I saw the city from 

above I had an inkling as to what I 

wanted to photograph. Cityscapes and 

architecture. Contrary to the case right 

now, beautiful images of Nairobi were 

not the norm 7 years ago when I started 

but I kept on. Now shooting cities and 

buildings is how I feed my family and 

like at the start, photography is still so 

much fun.” 

Mutua is an Architect from Jomo 

Kenyatta University of Agriculture 

& Technology (J.K.U.A.T), and fully 

applies his architectural eye to capture 

architecture, cityscapes & landscapes 

with his photography. Mutua, together 

with David ‘Blackman’ Muthami and 

the UN Habitat, use photography of 

urban spaces in Africa to showcase a 

beautiful Nairobi and eventually Africa. 

Mutua uses his photography to show 

the world that Africa, and his beloved 

Kenya, is much more than Maasai’s, 

safaris and lions. 

In this special feature of Mutua, we 

showcase the amazing photography 

that first launched him onto the scene 

and stamped his place as one of 

Africa’s pre-eminent photographers. 

www.mutuamatheka.co.ke 

-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

6 africanphotomagazine ISSUE 7 NOVEMBER 2017 7

MWANGI 

KIRUBI 

NOMINEE OF BAKE 2017 


-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

Mwangi Kirubi, known to many as 

Mwarv, takes photos that primarily 

showcase Kenya’s beauty, and works 

with NGOs and other development organizations 

to showcase their work in 

Kenya and on the African continent. 

Mwarv, has been in the photography 

industry for 11 years and characterizes 

his success as being driven by 

passion and building strong 

relationships. Before Mwarv ventured 

into photography in 2006, he was a 

copyrighter. “The salary was good, but 

I felt there was no need to be empty 

during the week and then full on 

weekends, which is when I pursued my 

photography passion. Quitting my job 

in 2006 was the best decision I made.” 

Mwarv started out by taking photos for 

Mavuno Church’s events and moved 

on to wedding photography, which he 

did for a number of years until it no 

longer fulfilled him. 

Mwarv then made the bold decision to 

follow his dream and that dream would 

take him on a series of photographic 

road trips around East Africa, including 

his home country of Kenya. Through 

his photos, Mwarv counters negative 

stereotypes about the continent 

with regal portraits, awe-inspiring 

landscapes, and iridescent city shows. 

‘My biggest achievement as a 

photographer involves making people 

look at Kenya and Africa in a whole new 

light.” 

Link: www.mwarv.click.co.ke/ 

-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 


PETER 

IRUNGU 



-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

Peter Irungu is a Photographer, 

Designer, cinematographer who 

appreciates all Art Forms. His mission is 

to impress upon a change in negative 

mentality and perception through 

which Africa is viewed. Through his 

photos he wants the world to view 

Africans as equals in beauty, diversity 

and creation in every aspect. 

Two of Peter’s artistic projects 

define him as a stand out, unique 

photographer. 

His series HUMAN vs CONCRETE is 

a series that projects our influences 

as humans onto the landscapes that 

define our architecture and cityscapes. 

The buildings are an expression of the 

architects vision and also influences 

what the eventual occupants want to 

identify them as and for. 

Nairobi Urban Rush, is a street 

time-lapse project. “It might seem 

chaotic at first but that’s all an act. A 

different perspective is all that it takes 

to unmask the poetic motion of the 

masses, filling up the streets on their 

way home.” 

irungu.tumblr.com 

-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 


VICTOR 

PEACE 



-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

African Fashion and Beauty Photographer 

Victor Peace is a leading artist in 

Africa having worked with prestigious 

companies such as Ford and Forbes. 

His project ‘Maumbo’, meaning shapes 

in Swahili was a stunning color-rich 

editorial project done in collaboration 

with stylist and set designer Kevo 

Abbra and features Kenyan model 

Sylvia Owalla. 

Victor’s interest in photography 

was sparked first by his very cool 

grandfather, a great professional 

photographer who had been shooting 

from the 1970’s with his portfolio 

expanding and showcased as far as 

Japan. Victor would accompany him 

to weddings and funerals and as the 

grandfather shot video, Victor was his 

accomplice, shooting stills with his old 

manual minolta camera. 

Victor Loves shooting fashion and 

beauty and aspires to be one of the 

best fashion and beauty photographers 

of his time. We wish him all the best! 

www.victorpeace.com 

-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 


SANAA 

STORY 



-2 • • 1 • • • • 1 • • +2 

SanaaStory is currently running three 

major creative projects. 

SanaaFashion is the merchandising 

franchise that presents a stylish yet 

meaningful touch of design to the 

fashion market. 

SanaaStory is a creative investment company. SanaaStory aims to invest in creative projects 

that spearhead bold and fresh initiatives in the urban artistic/creative culture, in order to make 

art a sustainable venture for artists. 

The SanaaStory began in 2014 when a group of young art enthusiasts wanted to create a 

cultural movement that would redefine how art spaces were viewed and perceived. Far from 

the traditional desk and chair in a dimly-lit room, art could also be created and experienced in 

the great outdoors, in downtown Nairobi and even amongst non-creatives. 

The first venture was a street art gallery on November 29th 2014. A crowd of about ten guests 

came to experience art installation on the road. Since then they have experienced growth and 

support that has seen them hold four more events in venues such as Michael Joseph Center 

and the Village Market. 

SanaaCulture is an event, which 

provides a platform that allows artists 

to display their creative works. The 

event also brings together non-artists 

and art enthusiasts for a chance to 

view, enjoy and purchase the different 

forms of creative works. 

Their ventures grew as they met creatives along the way that shaped their understanding and 

philosophy. From fashion to travel to music and to photography, their growth is continuously 

shaped by the collaborations and development of the artists they have worked with. 

www.sanaastory.co.ke 

SanaaWanderlust is a purpose 

and culture driven take to tourism. 

SanaaStory organizes budget trips to 

both SanaaWanderlust members and 

non-members, with an aim to immerse 

the travelers in a destination’s cuisine, 

culture and creative opportunities. 


A 

WALK DOWN 

MEMORY LANE 

Interviews by African Photo Magazine 

VIEWFINDERS | Black Women Photographers by Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe @1985 

PHILLDA RAGLAND-NJAU 

“P 

hillda Ragland-Njau, born in 

Plainfield, New Jersey, in 1939, 

was the first black woman 

photographer to be sent on 

overseas mission assignments by 

the United Presbyterian Church. At 

twenty-nine, Phillda was the manager of production for 

the filmstrip and photography section of the Commission 

on Ecumenical Missions and relations – the overseas 

department of the United Presbyterian Church in the 

United States. Phillda comments, “Being the first black 

woman photographer in the church of course made 

a difference, but I thought of my assignment more as 

a personal journey into life, self-development, and 

opportunity for spiritual growth through involvement with 

people.” Phillda goes on to say, “it is the aesthetic and 

spiritual dimension of photography that interests me, 

and which I try to put across in my work, whether I am 

photographing a person, a natural thing, or an object.” 

From very early on, Phillda captured the imagination 

of many, gracing the cover of the famed Jet magazine 

in 1958 when her alma mater, Upsala Collage of New 

Jersey named a “Negro” as Gazette Girl. In 1966 Phillda 

was again in the spotlight when she made the cover of 

Film News and a feature segment in the TIME magazine 

in 1968. In 1969 she was the subject of an extensive 

photo feature in Ebony magazine and her work with 

the church was publicized in The Courier News of New 

Jersey. 

ISSUE 7 NOVEMBER 2017 17

Phillda’s work for the church’s overseas department 

included photographing the social and economic 

projects that the church sponsored in many foreign 

countries. Some of her interesting photographs were 

collected for an exhibition, “Kids Next Door,” that drew 

large crows to the church’s headquarters in New York. At 

the same time that she was teaching an adult education 

class in scriptwriting and in shooting and editing motion 

pictures, Phillda received her Master’s degree at 

Columbia University, with her earlier enrollment making 

the press in New York Beat as a singular event of note! 

From very early on, Phillda captured the 

imagination of many, gracing the cover 

of the famed Jet magazine in 1958 when 

her alma mater, Upsala Collage of New 

Jersey named a “Negro” as Gazette Girl 

Jet Magazine, March 1958 

Initially hired as a photo librarian for the United 

Presbyterian Church, Phillda’s big break came when 

Fred Haines, a photographer for the home office, taught 

her the basic camera techniques. “Fred was so helpful, 

giving up weekends to guide me along,” says Phillda. 

When her boss, Dr. Archie Crouch noticed her progress, 

he sent her to Latin America in 1967 for her first overseas 

assignment, trading her summer vacation for this great 

challenge. On her assignment, Phillda used an old 

Rollei-cord 120 box camera and a separate handheld 

light meter, later graduating to a Minolta Pentax 

35mm. Phillda undertook other several assignments, 

including conferences and photo features for articles 

about black women. As the official photographer for a 

black clergymen’s conference in St. Louis, Phillda was 

among the handful of women in the assembly of about 

four hundred black clergymen, and the only woman 

photographer in the press pit. That year Phillda was 

named New Jersey’s Outstanding Young Woman of the 

Year, an honour given to young women for their accomplishments. 

After the Latin America assignment, Phillda went on 

to also document the United Presbyterian Church’s 

activities in Europe in 1968, and it was on her assignment 

to East Africa in 1969 that she met the man who was 

to later become her husband, Elimo Njau. Elimo was a 

Tanzanian mural painter and Phillda had been sent on 

assignment to cover his work as a Christian artist. Elimo 

invited Phillda to join the East African International Arts 

Programme, which sponsored two art centres, one 

in Tanzania, the Kibo Art Gallery, and one in Kenya, 

the Paa ya Paa Art Gallery. Phillda’s earlier travels to 

Jet Magazine, March 1958 

VIEWFINDERS, Black Women Photographers, 1985 

Ebony Magazine, March 1969 



Film News, June 1966 

Latin America and then East Africa stirred a deep 

longing to plant roots in cultures that exemplified 

family, community and a deep connection to the 

environment. It therefore came as no surprise to her, 

and her boss back home, when on her second tour to 

East Africa, she decided to make Tanzania her home, 

and later Kenya. 

Phillda has been resident in Tanzania and Kenya over 

forty years, becoming Elimo’s wife and raising three 

children together, and now serves as the Paa ya Paa 

gallery’s archivist, curator and tour guide. In its heyday 

in the 1970s and 1980s, Paa ya Paa served as the hub 

of cultural activity when it was frequented by the likes 

of Okot P Bitek, Philip Ochieng, Ngugi wa Thiong’o 

and Hilary Ng’weno, among international notables 

such as Nigerian playwright and Nobel Laureate 

Wole Soyinka, former US President Jimmy Carter, 

Sidney Poitier and US civil rights activist, Dick Gregory. 

Unbowed by a 1997 inferno that consumed sculptures, 

artefacts, paintings and over 7,000 literature books 

worth millions of shillings, the charred remains and 

structure are slowly been reconstructed with the help 

of artists and well-wishers and the gallery paintings 

now hang in the burned ruins of the 100-year-old 

colonial house, which gives it an even more artistic 

finish. 

The last two decades have not been kind to Paa ya 

Paa as attention has shifted to other art galleries and 

art forms, but Phillda and Elimo find solace among the 

mainly young artists who come faithfully to the centre 

to be mentored by the master painter-sculptor. Paa ya 

Paa’s legacy lives on under the very capable hands of 

Phillda, and her husband Elimo, and Phillda’s desire is 

not only see Paa ya Paa flourish again, but to pick up a 

camera and revisit her first love for photography. 

The Courier News, Nov 1969 


Old Rollei-cord 120 box camera 


“Sanaa ni 

kioo cha jamii” 

Art is the reflection of 

the community 

“K 

ibera is one of the most densely 

populated urban settlements 

in the world. An untold number 

of people, possibly as many as 

one million, crowd a 632-acre 

area outside Nairobi, Kenya. In 

this small, crowded community, residents struggle 

to meet basic needs—daily meals, clean water, 

adequate housing. It is one of the fastest growing 

areas in Kenya and as many as half its residents are 

under the age of fifteen. Despite these sobering 

statistics, the resilient youth of Kibera do overcome 

their circumstances showing great courage, 

creativity and determination and these same 

qualities are essential for affecting and sustaining 

great change in their community and in our country 

Kenya. 

“Kibera’s artists show there is more to their home than 

what is supposed to form the “slum menu: poverty, 

poor education, violence… Kibera is also about 

solidarity, strength, generosity, adaptability, beauty, 

perseverance, and a lot of laughing. 

People use crafts, poetry, music, painting, dance, 

acting or comedy as ways to tell their stories. It is the 

collection of all these diverse talents of the people of 

Kibera that draws the fascinating, constantly moving, 

picture of Kibera “ ~ Kibera Creative Arts 

In this issue, we proudly celebrate the Kibera artist. 


KIBERA 

STORIES 

B 

rian Otieno is a freelance photojournalist 

who operates an online photo project 

called “KiberaStories,” since 2013. Brian 

was raised in Kibera – Africa’s most 

vibrant, biggest shantytown in Nairobi, 

Kenya and is a graduate from Multimedia 

University of Kenya with a Diploma in Journalism and 

Strategic Public Relations. 

Brian’s passion and commitment lies in capturing 

the visual realities and documenting the norm of 

everyday life from the people around him, and 

sharing their stories. His visual stories attempt to go beyond the chaotic appearance 

and to demonstrate the daily lives in Kibera from socio-economic, cultural, political 

and environmental perspectives. By doing so, Brian also tries to draw the attention 

of the public to understand the diversity, dynamics, and inequality of urban life as an 

observer with a unique point of view through photography. 

In this particular series, the publication showcases a fashionista from Kibera, Stephen 

Okoth, also known as Ondivour, a film-maker, photographer and model for his self-styled 

colourful and vintage fashion. “He inspires a generation in the shanty town through his 

sense of style, which brings hope to the people.” His signature bright clothes sourced 

from local second-hand markets have turned him into a local celebrity. 

http://storitellah.com/ 

#KiberaStories 

“HE INSPIRES A GENERATION IN THE SHANTY 

TOWN THROUGH HIS SENSE OF STYLE, WHICH 

BRINGS HOPE TO THE PEOPLE.” 



Photo Start is a non-profit organization 

developed to foster creativity and teach 

marketable skills to disadvantaged children in 

depressed areas. 

Photographers in the programme learn to 

become literate in the digital darkroom, and the 

underlying concepts of computing, to take, edit, 

produce, print, store and transmit photographs. 

Photo Start graduates are capable of using 

digital cameras, manipulating light, understand 

best practices regarding digital workflow, digital 

production, and digital asset management. 

Planning and patience, two prized assets of 

the prepared photographer, are also valued 

highly by businesses and hiring managers in a 

multitude of fields. 

Photo Start students also improve in self-esteem, 

self-confidence, and self-reliance, leadership 

traits that are highly translatable and extremely 

marketable, particularly in developing regions. 

It is important to amplify the voices of those we 

have never heard from and to this end, Photo 

Start provides equipment, learning space, and 

one on one guidance with program participants. 

By teaching vulnerable students photography 

as an art, and a business, Photo Start hopes 

to bring about much needed economic 

development as well as to introduce the world 

to a new generation of artists. 


THE UWEZA ART GALLERY 

Located at Kamukunji grounds in Kibera, Uweza provides advanced art students from art classes as well 

as other Kibera-based artists with a space to create, market and sell their own original artwork. The youth 

that have graduated from the art classes to the gallery are encouraged to consider art as a viable career 

option and to explore different techniques, genres and mediums as they find their own artistic styles. 

Artwork created at the gallery is sold both locally and abroad and the proceeds are used to fund the 

artists’ high school education or act as a source of income for older artists living in Kibera. All participating 

artists that are high school age are currently enrolled in high schools throughout Kenya, fully supported 

by the sales of their art. 

M2 ART-CENTRE 

The centre was was founded in 2001 by Otieno Gomba and Otieno Kota. The pair began by selling novel 

hand-painted signs along Kibera drive, before acquiring a permanent site in 2003. This became the M2 

Art-centre, serving as a studio cum gallery and a juncture for many creatives and artists in the area. 

The M2 Art-centre was a pioneering visual art space in Kibera initiating opportunities for participation, 

collaboration, teaching and socialization as well as providing a space to work. 

M2 has also ventured into community outreach projects, conceptual work, fashion, film, mixed media, 

music, photography and sculpture. The artists and their work traverse local, national and global art worlds. 

THE UWEZA ART GALLERY 

M2 ART-CENTRE 


NYOTA ART GALLERY 

The Gallery is a registered CBO whose conceptual work revolves around creative issues with educational 

empowerment focus, aiming to provide the gifted but under privileged youth from the slums with space, 

supplies, training and market so that they can change their livelihoods and inspire their peers despite their 

social, physical and economic disadvantaged backgrounds. The proceeds from the sales of their artworks go 

towards the funding of their education. 

Nyota desires to develop talents, to reach out and empower, the normal, deaf and the mentally handicapped 

youngsters in Kibera as they believe that every child should have the opportunity to seek, to explore and 

nurture their God-given talents. 

NYOTA ART GALLERY 


WE ARE 

Creative & Digital 

Disruptive thinkers | Creative Doers | Innovative Actors 

Our mission is to providing leadership in integrated creative and digital 

space that catapults action and delivers sustainable outcomes for our partners. 

We are disruptive in our thinking, creative in our process and Innovative 

in our execution. 

www.jamodesigns.com 


Mekatilili Wa Menza 

of Kenya 

by Mfon Abigail for 24Naija 

F 

rom the bowels of Kenya, a prophesy about British oppression 

had gone ahead. What also followed was that the savior would 

be a woman. No one guessed that it would be Mnyazi wa Menza, 

an only girl among 5 children, born to poor parents in Mutsara 

wa Tsatsu, a village of the Giriama, sometime between 1840 

and 1860. The little girl had no idea as well until she became 

an eye-witness to the capture of one of her brothers by the Arabs in the 

market place. The rage and dissatisfaction was only fueled when the British 

colonial masters arrived and marched right on to threaten the values of 

the Giriama people, pushing them to the verge of extinction. The culture, 

norms and values of her people were to be replaced with British policies 

and ordinances. But this was unacceptable to the young woman whom the 

birth of her son katilili had christened Mekatilili (Mother of Katilili). It didn’t 

matter who stood as the tower against her, she was ready to fight and tear 

out her people from the jaws of the British colonial lions. 

Despite the fact that numerous ideologies from time immemorial have 

oppressed, caged, trodden, abused and discriminated against the woman 

and her core, gender inequality has also provoked her to be referred to as 

one who is to be seen and not heard and to crown it all, cultural moves, 

beliefs and practices in the world at large and in Africa particularly, have 

justified this unnatural behavior. 

Thankfully, women like Mekatilili of Kenya have been bold enough to step 

forward, rising beyond the embargo placed on them by society to express 

their inner strength and worth. 

The fact that she was a young widow without a man to stand up for and 

protect her should have deterred her but she harnessed and embraced 

it, preferring to see it as a breath of freedom to travel and speak for the 

emancipation of her people. 

She was a woman of many qualities and these became her tools. Her 

exceptional prowess in both oratory and the kifudu dance which was a 

funeral dance garnered many admirers who turned followers. When the 

need arose she conscripted them to become her army of fighters against 

the brutal colonial masters. Many of them were women but their gender 

Rich Allela(Kenya) -https://www.instagram.com/rich_allela/ 

Dapel Kureng(Nigeria) -https://www.instagram.com/kurengworkx/ 


wasn’t an impediment because they 

drew strength from their Mekatilili. 

She met Wanje wa Mwadori Kola; a 

notable traditional medicine man 

who became a powerful ally. He 

helped in organizing a large meeting 

at Kaya Fungo and together, they 

administered the deadliest oaths: the 

mukushekushe among the women 

and Fisi among the men. The oaths 

helped them keep sacred creed 

never to cooperate with the British in 

any form whatsoever or die. Together, 

they went to war with their courage 

and trust in the singular course of 

freedom. 

Her exile on 17th October 1913 

together with her ally by the colonial 

oppressors to Mumias in Western 

Province only functioned as a 

necessary retreat for Mekatilili. She 

is said to have escaped and trekked 

about 1,000km with Mwadori through 

the dangerous forests, back to 

Giriama to continue the fight right 

where she had stopped. This instilled 

fear in the colonial master thus, she 

was recaptured but, this instigated 

the uprising of October 25, 1914. 

Although the British had the upper 

hand, they were unable to gain total 

control and eventually, yielded to the 

demands of the Giriama people. 

Many may frown at the insinuation 

that she is a preserver of life but a 

close look at the mere fact that she is 

a carrier of the seed that blooms into 

a human being is proof enough. The 

woman is thus to be preserved. In the 

case of Kenya’s Mekatilili, it is within 

her bowels that the seed of freedom 

is birthed and she stopped at 

nothing to ensure that the freedom 

of the Giriama people came to be 

even though she was far away in the 

Northern parts of Kenya. Five years 

later, Mekatilili returned again from 

her second exile. 

She was indeed a warrior and one 

would imagine that her outspoken 

nature in the battle ground would 

generally define her. But it is almost 

quite ironic that she enjoyed a very 

private and quiet life in her home 

when she wasn’t about the business 

of freeing her people from the 

clutches of colonialism or holding 

leadership positions among the 

Baraza, Hifudu or Makushekushe. 

She was womanly in every sense 

of the word and cared so much for 

her immediate family, providing 

basic home needs and dutifully 

performing wifely responsibilities to 

her husband Dyeka wa Duka until he 

died. 

Although she died in 1924, and 

was buried in Bungale, in Magarini 

Constituency, Malindi District, her 

heart beats on, inspiring many simply 

because the woman has been built 

to be the guardian of the flame of life, 

virtues and values; the active and 

total expression of her innate worth in 

its entirety spells preservation of life 

and core human and societal values. 

Her life represents the strength of 

womanhood and inspires African 

women to RISE above the inequality 

and discrimination saddled around 

their necks. 

Rich Allela(Kenya) -https://www.instagram.com/rich_allela/ 

Dapel Kureng(Nigeria) -https://www.instagram.com/kurengworkx/ 



PSSA (Photographic Society of South Africa) is the oldest photographic society on the 

Continent and recognised by the South African Government through the Performing 

Arts Council. PSSA is consulted on all aspects affecting photography in South Africa 

as well as being able to negotiate protection and exemption for photographic clubs 

and members. 

PSSA publishes a magazine named IMAGE, which covers all aspects of the Society’s 

activities and photography in general. 

This is a submission by IMAGE, sharing photoshop tips and techniques, with readers 

of our publication. 



Photo books to read 

Vanishing Songs of the Warriors 

(Available for purchase from All Time News Stand Village Market, TBC Sarit Centre and Bookstop Yaya Centre.) 

Vanishing Songs of the Warriors is an amazing compilation of illuminating moments that reflect the veiled thoughts of Africa. Woven through 

its pages is a story with a message; a deep message that is so simple, yet so significant. It is a photographic coffee table book that explores the 

Maasai, Borana, Turkana, Pokot, South Sudan, among other communities. 


B 

With over 25,000 followers and over 250k 

images tagged, #igKenya is the Instagrammers 

community in Kenya, promoting Kenya, events of 

note and instagrammers to follow. 

In this issue’s focus on Kenya, we would be 

remiss not to cover the Instagrammers community in Kenya 

@urbanskript 

@Petersize10 

48 africanphotomagazine @l.eafar 

ISSUE 7 NOVEMBER 2017 49 

@mvrhodes

@Petersize10 

@kip_briann 

@jaydabliu 

@the.frostographer 

@isaacgitau 


@thandiwe_muriu 

@kidd_volt 

@izmungai 

@brianbett 

@miantaqeel 

@roykingrhd 

@asayf 

@urbanskript 


@amaliezw 

@madrascala 

@jonobuffey 

@dionvanaardt 

@jaydabliu 

@tichtoo 

@atta_guhad 

@wanzalla 


@jason_jamhuri 

@mboss_weh_tis_vaimbah 

@joerobiii 

@the_mentalyst 

@thelifetraveller 

@_brian_gathu 

@wesleygrim 

@moeng_photography 


[ 

[ 

[ 

GEAR 

[ 

GEAR 

Some cool accessories to 

take your skills to the 

NEXT LEVEL! 

WIRAL LITE EASY 

CABLE CAM 

MEVO PLUS 

LIVE-STREAMING CAMERA 

Kick your footage up a notch with the Wiral LITE Easy 

Cable Cam. Compatible with GoPro and other action 

cameras, this device gives your camera a totally steady 

line to follow. Hanging easily and effortlessly, your camera 

glides smoothly along to capture the perfect angle with 

minimal shake. The Wiral LITE has two modes to suit 

your style. In standard mode, the Wiral LITE can travel 

along the cable as fast as 28mph to keep up with you. In 

addition, the device works in time-lapse mode. With this, 

it can go as slow as 0.006mph to capture all the nuances 

of the world around you. 

Make your online live streams look more professional 

with the Mevo Plus Livestreaming Camera. This latest 

camera from Livestream edits video in real-time and 

shares it on every major social media platform. The 

purpose is to tell your video story in the best and 

quickest way possible. In fact, you can actually create 

a multi-camera production with a single Mevo Plus. 

You just need to enable the Autopilot mode and let 

Mevo’s advanced AI do the editing for you. 

NANO DSLR RIG 

Using your own body to steady the camera, the Nano 

DSLR Rig can turn your DSLR camera into the ultimate 

movie-making machine, as well as give you all the options 

you need to brace your camera for the perfect photo. 

The flexibility of the rig opens up a world of different 

possibilities on how it can be used. 

SAMSUNG 360 

ROUND VR CAMERA 

Create high-quality content anywhere when you have 

the Samsung 360 Round VR Camera. This high-tech 

system is complete with a whopping 17 different 

lenses to capture literally everything around. The 

cameras are spread throughout the disc-like shape. 

The camera can create 3D images thanks to all the 

lenses working in unison. With this, you can also 

create content for a variety of VR headsets. With six 

built-in microphones and two external ports, you can 

also pair your content with crystal clear audio. The 

360 Round is both water and dust resistant so you can 

take the whole system anywhere you go. 

GORILLAPOD 

The Gorillapod needs no introduction and should be in 

every photographer’s kit. The flexible tripod can attach 

itself to just about any surface, making it easy to get 

the exact photo that you want. And there’s a whole line 

of Gorillapod’s available, that can take anywhere from 

325g to 5kg, so no matter what kind of camera you use, 

whether a small point and shoot, or a huge SLR sporting 

a telephoto lens. 


I Love my country, Kenya 

Canon Trainer, T eddy Mitchener with workshop students, 

Kenya S ept 11 -16, 2017 

In Emerging Markets, Canon is helping local people to 

establish careers in photography and print, and since 

December 2014, Canon has facilitated many workshops 

across Africa. 

Through each free week-long workshop, students experience 

classroom learning, one-to-one training, hands-on 

application and lectures by established locally-based 

professional photographers. These workshops have inspired 

and developed the students’ ability to tell powerful stories 

that matter to them through their cameras. 

With the support of local partners, Canon is using its core 

imaging skills to help local people develop livelihoods in 

professional photography or print. Already some of the 

workshop students have had their work published locally 

and abroad. 

What does 

mean? Miraisha is the 

combination of the Japanese word ‘mirai’ meaning ‘future’ 

and the Swahili word ‘maisha’ meaning ‘livelihood or life’. 

60 africanphotomagazine 

Visit this publications website on 

www.africanphotomag.co.ke 

to register for the 2018 and beyond Miraisha Workshops 

Mumbe Mutisya | https://www.behance.net/cmutisya112d49 


“Life i s not a solo act. It’s a huge collaboration, 

and we all need to assemble around us, the people 

who care about what we care about.” 

~ Tim Gunn 

Kenya Fashion Awards, The Norfolk Fairmont and House of Fotography have come 

together to roll out a series of collaborative projects that showcase the best in each 

other. 

To see more on this collaboration visit this publications website on 

www.africanphotomag.co.ke 


FASTLANE 

I once heard that you are most alive when closest to death. This week I had 

the opportunity to be extra alive for a short while courtesy of a conspiracy 

between the weather and poor human planning. God and man pulled a 

fast one on me. 

I was in Nyali for one of my public servant jobs over the long weekend. I 

went down with the Madaraka Express, commonly known as SGR. I got 

my ticket a week earlier as I had been informed that you can easily miss a 

seat especially being the Mashujaa weekend. I was very impressed with 

the Nairobi station and for a minute, I felt like I was at a train station in 

Shanghai. Well done GOK. You delivered this one for sure. 

I got onto my window seat with my notebook and pen in hand, just in case 

some inspiration from the passing landscape came to me. That was exactly 

why I wanted to travel alone by train – to call myself to a meeting and just 

be. In my 40s, I am enjoying my own company more and I love it. It was a 

good ride apart from the usual noisy (and some high) Kenyans chatting 

animatedly as they went on holiday. We arrived at the Miritini station 

exactly five hours later and the train spewed out the sea of humanity. I 

plan to go back in December with my baby sharks. I’m sure they’ll love it. 

My good pal Junia from Nairobi Serena Hotel hooked me up with the 

usual five star treatment at the Serena beach and they did not disappoint. 

Their hospitality game is at the top. Even the monkey that stole fruits from 

my room through the bathroom window was courteous enough to ask for 

them using that woiyemonkey look. He even left me an orange. Customer 

service monkey style hapo. 

My four-day working holiday was enjoyable despite the 18-hole sauna 

that was playing golf in the Mombasa heat. The morning moments at the 

beach were cleansing to my heart and mind. Watching the sea and hearing 

the sound of the waves collapsing lazily on the white sandy beaches was 

the paracetamol to the high fever caused by my anxieties. I’ve told you 

guys about them in the past. I even posted on twitter that the sea doesn’t 

seem to be in a hurry. Maybe it’s because it knows there will be enough 

waves for today and the day after. Be easy folks. 

The event at Nyali ended well and on the day of departure my good pal 

Cecily, sent her cab guy to pick me up. She wanted to hook me up with a 

guy for some biashara. We met in this Chinese restaurant and devoured 

some chicken wings and spare ribs. As we talked, I glanced at my watch 

and it was 2:30 PM. My flight back home was at 3:45 PM and it was raining 

outside. I said my kwaheris and got into Cecily’s car for the ride to the 

airport. We only drove a short distance, before our fears were confirmed. 

Standstill traffic at Makupa. It was now 40 minutes to my flight and I was 

determined not to miss it. So I left my suitcase in the car, grabbed my 

backpack with my bucket hat on my head and jumped out for a 500 metre 

hop, skip and jump dash to where the nduthis were. 

I jumped on one and instructed the rider to 

step on it to the airport. It was a ride mixed with 

fear, danger, panic and slight excitement. I 

told the rider to go fast yet carefully, whatever 

that means. I silently asked the Lord to keep 

us safe as we swerved in traffic, crisscrossing 

matatus that feel nothing for bodabodas 

and mean looking old trucks coming from 

the port. All this time the raindrops were 

slapping my face hard. My biggest fear was 

colliding with the tarmac and being scarred 

for life. I need to retain my looks you know. 

Especially now when I need to impress my 

second half new contacts. 

We finally got to the Moi International Airport 

entrance and my superbike grandprix rider 

stopped, as he couldn’t go beyond this point. 

I paid him 650 bob which I found steep but 

I was least concerned as I ran towards the 

airport entrance. It was now 15 minutes to 

take off but my dream of catching the flight 

were still valid.. I decided to hitchhike and 

this mzungu couple offered me a lift to the 

airport terminal. Those were real angels sent 

to my rescue. I jumped off at Terminal one 

after blessing them thoroughly and sprinted 

to the gate just to be told by the guard 

‘Boss Jambojet iko Terminal One’. Wah! So, 

mimi huyo, running to Terminal Two. I went 

through security and met this Jambojet girl 

who asks for my ID and tells me to run. 

Folks I made my flight and it was like the fast 

and furious movie trailer, Kenyan edition. 

There was no better feeling than getting 

to my seat on that flight back home. I don’t 

recall the last time I felt that alive. It was just 

too deadly. 

Lesson for me was, in life, we have to think 

on our toes sometimes. Thinking on our feet 

may be too slow. Sometimes we have to 

throw ourselves out into the elements and 

take them head on. Chances are we shall get 

through on the other side just fine. Comfort 

zone at 40 or any other age is like a virus that 

will delete you from this life pap! If I saw the 

rain or matope on the road, I would have 

missed my flight. But having gone against 

the odds and succeeded confirmed that what 

we deeply desire is just on the other side of 

the rainfall or traffic jams that represent the 

domes in our lives. 

Now how do I reunite with my suitcase…? 

http://lucasmaranga.com 

Photo credit _ Jeb Weru of The Standard 


[ 

[ 

[ 

PUBLISHERS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

PUBLISHERS: 

House of Fotography 

EDITOR: 

Sharon Mitchener 

LAYOUT DESIGNER: 

Mumbe Mutisya | https://www.behance.net/cmutisya112d49 

EDITORIAL OFFICES: 

House of Fotography P.O. Box 25190-00603 Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: (+254) 702.680.797 | 714.745.924 

hello@africanphotomag.co.ke 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING: 

To all the photographers and artists who contributed towards this 7th issue, particularly 

the contribution from #igKenya and the photographers showcasing the greatness that is 

Kenyan Photography! 

To Brian Otieno (Storitellah), Rich Allela, Mutua Matheka, Mwarv Kirubi, Peter Irungu, Victor 

Peace and SanaaStory for their commitment to their craft and elevating Kenyan Photography. 

To PhotoStart.Org, M2, Uweza and Nyota galleries for their dedication to the arts and to 

establishing creative communities and self-sustaining businesses in our beloved Kibera. 

A community of 

African photographers 

dedicated to sharing news and tutorials on 

techniques, business and marketing essentials for today’s photographer. 

A joint initiative of 

To Bobby Pall for being a leading light and documenting our shared history through his 

amazing photobooks. 

To Phillda Ragland-Njau for blazing the trail back in the 1960’s and coming to Kenya to 

make her mark in the great nation of Kenya and contributing significantly to the legacy that 

is Paa ya Paa 

To the Photographers Association of South Africa (PSSA) and its publication IMAGE for its 

immense contribution to the growth of our industry on the Continent and its support of this 

publication. 

To Lucas Maranga, A Man at 40. Thank you for your wit and candor, and joining the team. 

To Mumbe Mutisya for a spectacular layout design and ensuring this publication continues 

to see the light of day 

To our cover model (front & back), Clara Onyango for graciously giving of her time and 

efforts. 

And 

Ultimately, to our Almighty God for who He is and what He is doing. 

WATCH MORE VIDEOS ON OUR 

CHANNEL 


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African Photo Magazine Issue #7

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