Aging with Dignity, Care and Community
Using documentary photography as social research, Seen & Unseen examines visibility, ageism, and community care among older residents of Kibera by documenting how older persons navigate physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges—such as chronic illness, musculoskeletal strain, and dementia—and how social bonds, caregiving practices, and spiritual and cultural rituals support dignity, wellbeing, and resilience in a context of limited formal care. The work is grounded in long-term engagement in Kibera through sustained documentary practice, collaborative community-based inquiry, and close relationships with older residents and community-based care organizations, allowing the project to be shaped by trust, shared time, and ongoing dialogue rather than short-term observation.
Rooted in the personal history of Kibera—one of the largest informal settlements in Africa, shaped over decades by migration, resilience, and community life—this Visual Narrative reshapes how the world sees Kibera by documenting fashion as a tool for dignity, self-expression, strength and cultural pride. Using photography, interviews, and community-based inquiry, the work presents Kibera not as a place of lack, but as a vibrant hub of creativity, style and innovation. By engaging in immersive fieldwork, these work documents how fashion connects to identity, agency, sustainability and pride. Extensive portraits, behind-the-scenes moments and environmental scenes paints the picture of how grassroots fashion becomes a powerful space for protest, resilience and belonging. A long shadow of Kibera’s history of adaptability and enduring cultural richness.
Motherhood, Girlhood & Second Chances in Kibera
