This project captures the contradictions inherent in the oil discovery in Turkana. The people have high hopes it will change their lives but at what cost? Mourine Apuu explores this question in a black and white themed shoot to personify the properties of the two liquids, each with crucial significance in Turkana.

Oil + Milk is one of the seven projects created under the first phase of the Turkana Artists Xchange, a  collaborative exploration bringing together artists from Nairobi and Turkana to create work inspired by the region resulting in bold new visuals and a new way of thinking that is modern yet deeply rooted in tradition.

This project looks at the importance of cattle in Turkana life and sparks

a discussion on what role they play in the transition to modernity in ways

as diverse as new land tenure laws, climate change mitigation policies

and an ever evolving social fabric.

Cow Culture is one of the seven projects created under the first phase of

the Turkana Artists Xchange, a collaborative exploration bringing together

artists from Nairobi and Turkana to create work inspired by the region

resulting in bold new visuals and a new way of thinking that is modern yet

deeply rooted in tradition.

Concept & Photography

Migwa Nthigah

Medium

Photography

Status

Completed, 2022

This project is inspired by the Turkana concept of “atintina”, a joyful call

to feel yourself no matter your age.

Atintina is one of the seven projects created under the first phase of

the Turkana Artists Xchange, a collaborative exploration bringing together

artists from Nairobi and Turkana to create work inspired by the region

resulting in bold new visuals and a new way of thinking that is modern yet

deeply rooted in tradition.

Concept & Makeup

Suki Kibunguri

Photographer

Migwa Nthigah

Medium

Photography

Status

Completed, 2022

A homage to the women of Turkana and the heavy burden they shoulder

in caring for their families and communities including walking long

distances to fetch water and taking care of livestock in unforgiving terrain.

Robots Reimagined is one of the seven projects created under the first

phase of the Turkana Artists Xchange, a collaborative exploration bringing

 together artists from Nairobi and Turkana to create work inspired by the

region resulting in bold new visuals and a new way of thinking that is

modern yet deeply rooted in tradition.

Artist

Eric Otieno

Medium

Painting

Status

Completed, 2021

Floating, Flying is a fictional art project and collaboration of artists Margy Modo from Karamoja, Elizabeth Korikel from Turkana and Chebet Mutai from Nairobi. Margy Modo creates modern fashion and beading inspired by her heritage. Elizabeth Korikel works to fuse traditional Turkana and modern bead designs. Chebet Mutai from Nairobi works in leather to create bags and home décor items. Together they worked to create a project that fused their sensibilities. The project was shot in Eliye Springs, Lake Turkana.

Artists

Elizabeth Korkel, Margy Modo and Chebet Mutai

Model

Chebet Mutai

Photographer

Migwa Nthigah

Medium

Photography

Status

Completed, 2019

In early 2018 Picha Marangi, a photographer and stylist from Kibera,

traveled to Turkana on assignment. While in Turkana Picha Marangi met

Elizabeth Korkel, a translator, beading artist and singer. Each day at work

they complemented each other’s style, struck by how they both loved bold

color and statement pieces. Along the way love blossomed. To celebrate their

nuptials, they created looks that incorporated their shared love for vivid color,

Elizabeth’s beading work and Picha Marangi’s redesigned thrifted clothes.

These are their wedding photos.

The Flyest Wedding in Africa is a fictional art project that challenges the

unquestioning adoption of white dresses and suits at weddings while we

have such rich and varied heritage to celebrate such occasions, by

extension challenging adoption of policies and practices that do not

serve us or our communities.

The Flyest Wedding in Africa is one of the seven projects created under

the first phase of the Turkana Artists Xchange, a collaborative exploration

bringing together artists from Nairobi and Turkana to create work inspired by

the region resulting in bold new visuals and a new way of thinking that is

modern yet deeply rooted in tradition.

Artists & Models

Elizabeth Korikel & Picha Marangi aka Stephen “Ondivow” Okoth

Photographer

Migwa Nthigah

Medium

Photography

Status

Completed, 2018