Utendi
50 Golborne Gallery, London

In Utendi, I’m diving into the world of Swahili heritage through the lens of Utendi wa Mwana Manga, a poem that carries the spirit of Fumo Liyongo. This led me to Lamu, an island on Kenya’s northern coast, where Swahili culture - shaped by centuries of exchange between Arab, Persian, and East African worlds - remains beautifully intact. It was here that I began my exploration of the feminine presence in this ancient civilization, focusing on how it has been represented and its enduring power.

There’s a haunting familiarity to this exploration, a feeling that connects deeply with my own Omani roots and the shared history between Oman and East Africa. Since my first visit in 2018, Lamu has felt like a return to a place I’ve always known.

There’s a sensuality in Liyongo’s words that I’m drawn to, a beauty in how it resonates with the physicality of the world around me. I’m capturing not just symbols, but a deeper connection between these women, their culture, and the spaces they inhabit. The preserved Swahili architecture becomes a backdrop, a canvas that holds their stories, their strength, their mysteries.

This project includes a series of photographs and sculptures, and I’m planning to bring all my research and artwork together in a book.

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EMAN ALI

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