The 'Weaver Bird'

Painting: Acrylic

Dimensions: 86 x 57 cm

Meaning:

Kirima, nicknamed (Weaver Bird), was a high-ranking fighter during Kenya's struggle for independence against the British colonialists. Already in her twenties, she became a spy for the Mau Mau fighters and is one of the few women who actively participated in the war.

She was nicknamed by the late Dedan Kimathi because of her skill in weaving brilliant strategies. She endured beatings and torture at the hands of the British. She followed her husband, Mutungi Gichuhi, into the forest and stayed there even after Kenya gained independence in 1963 because the Mau Mau were banned. She passed away on September 5, 2023.