In June 2017, the Goethe-Institut in Nairobi, Kenya hosted an exhibition titled To Revolutionary Type Love. Created by artist Kawira Mwirichia, the project celebrates queer love, globally. Mwirichia focused on the kanga, a ubiquitous fashion item for women across East Africa. In addition, Mwirichia curated photography by Mal Muga, Neo Musangi, Maganga Mwagogo, Wawira Njeru, Awuor Onyango and Faith Wanjala. I had an insightful conversation with this group of visual artists on various topics including artists as archivists, where they source their inspiration, and the global photography canon.

Ng'ang'a Muchiri (NM): How did the project come about?

Kawira Mwirichia: There were a series of inspirations. I'd gone to a friend's wedding and saw the laying down of kangas to receive the bride, and it hit me that this is a gesture that us queers in Kenya would not experience. I feel like it's a very profound, very emotive gesture because it's you and your lover being honoured by the community, so you're being accepted; you're being celebrated and so I wanted to do that for the queer community. From that intention, it sort of grew into what it is now, and it's going to keep going.

NM: I think that's a great point of departure because the kanga ritual for the bride is such a common act, and yet it is so common but completely unavailable to a certain segment of Kenyans.

Kawira Mwirichia: I feel like the absence of loving gestures can be just as damaging. I think it takes away from an individual. For instance if you grow up and you're not given affection it affects you even if not in an obvious way. There is something that is missing, or that you might feel is missing. I feel that it's important to experience these things, even if not from society, by ourselves.

NM: I think we'll come back to that idea of affection. But I wanted to hear from everybody else about your background. What's your background as an artist; or what would you consider to be your background as an artist; and what is it about this project that interested you enough to actually get involved?