Samburu & Turkana Women

Painting: Acrylic

Dimensions: 47.5 x 94 cm

Meaning:

Near Mount Kenya, 300 km north of Nairobi, Samburu and Turkana women founded the village of Tumai, which is forbidden to men except for boys up to the age of 16, when they are considered adults.

This village was officially established as a women's association in 2002 and was born out of the difficulties faced by women who have experienced female genital mutilation, forced marriage, rejection or rape. One of the main causes of the oppression of women in Kenya is the gap that still determines the division of roles between the two sexes - a tradition that is particularly prevalent in rural areas where women form the backbone of societies and are responsible for all domestic work and much of the agricultural activities.