Collection

The term ‘boma’ is a traditional word used to refer to traditional community enclosures or homesteads. In past times, the structure of a boma said a lot about a community and even a family in the context of wealth. Large bomas were a display of a man’s wealth, and depending on the community, had huts and homes that belonged to his wives, his mother, his sons, and even guests – if the family was frequented by visitors and cultural norms allowed. For pastoralist communities, their bomas were designed to fit their nomadic lifestyles.

Inspired by these findings, today we welcome you to a new story collection – #BomaZetu – that intends to celebrate history and culture while paying homage to our ancestors. We invite you to engage with us throughout the next few weeks and share your understanding of these bomas.

From the time the first images were captured on film in the early 1800s photography has been a way of immortalizing life.  

Life in pictures. Time in photos. History made immortal.  

Since its inception the art and science of photography has gone through many iterations: Daguerreotypes, Brownie Boxes, 35mms, Instant Polaroids, DSLRs, iPhones. From separate gadgets that required the flash to be held up high and the photographer ensconced under a dark curtain, to hours spent in dark rooms in moody red light; or taking ones 24 or 36 roll of film to be developed at the local Kodak studio, to selfies taken using a phone. The camera and the photographer have changed with time.  

Yet much as we enjoy the photos and the stories they tell – we often forget that behind every camera is the cameraman. The visual storyteller who sees something worth capturing, and does so. Standing up, lying down, hanging in impossible places, staying still for hours waiting for the shot. The ones who go to the far beyond to bring images of nature at its most pristine. The ones who capture our most memorable moments: weddings, baptisms, family photos in studios.  

This collection aims to pay tribute to the Kenyans who have told our story (and continue to) through their lenses and in so doing captured it for posterity.

Khangas and lesos are no new phenomenon in Kenya. In fact, what makes them even more unique besides their vibrant designs are the wise sayings included on them. In a bid to explore Kenyan proverbs, we use virtual khangas to explore and share the profound words of caution, hard work, kindness and love, and knowledge – key values that continuously remain paramount in our daily lives.

Question: what comes to mind when you think of minerals? Is it the various tools, equipment, and heavy machinery that is required to dig into the earth to find those substances and gems buried deep within the earth’s crust? Or is it the outcome: the gold and silver jewellery, the powder-like substances etc? 

We have been thinking about minerals and wondered how wealthy our land is. True enough, we have heard about the minerals one is certain to find in Kenya but the question is, have we known about all the minerals that our country has? This next story collection seeks to discover the known and unknown minerals of Kenya, the places where they are found, the stories behind their discoveries, and even the mining process behind them. Gather your notebooks, some comfortable hiking boots, and as many tools as you can, because we are about to go on a mineral hunt! 

Welcome to #KeMinerals!

We refer to them as the lungs of the earth. They purify our air and are important water catchment areas. Not to mention their role as a wildlife habitat and the sheer beauty they give to a place. They are our forests, and their importance cannot be overstated.

For this story series, forests are taking center stage and ten of Kenya’s forests are featured. From some of their unique features to historical events woven into their identities and even spot the unique creatures that inhabit them. We’re eager to hear some of your own tales and to see the photos you will share of these beautiful physical features. 

Welcome to #KeForests

African artistry has its own special vibe about it – as its often beauty and function wrapped into one. Our history is littered with artefacts from time immemorial, some of which we see or experience in museums, at home and abroad; while many other pieces are found in our homes and neighbourhoods, providing functionality for the people within and around it.

This campaign celebrates the creators. Those people who use their hands to wring life from inanimate objects and make them things of beauty that surround us. These are the craftmakers – the keepers of tradition and definers of new standards of cultural objects in a fast-changing world.

Karibuni #KeCrafters

Since time immemorial, Africans have marked different stages of life through rites. A rite is defined as a social custom, ceremony or ritual. The ascendance of an individual into a new phase in life has been a communal affair, celebrated by all, and has provided the person with a clear definition of who they are and what is expected of them.

We are taking a closer look at the birth and naming, rites of passage, marriage and death rituals in our Kenyan communities.

Welcome to #KeRites