kenya

Our dance is inspired by the story of Mekatilili Wa Menza, a Kenyan leader whose story takes place during the British Colonisation in Kenya. She stood to protect the Giriama culture and its people from living a life of labour under British between 1912 and 1915. Given that she was a widow, she was able to hold a leadership position in society and gained popularity through her kifudu dances throughout numerous towns. Mekatilil’s movement was responded to with violence from the British leading to “kondo ya chembe” or more commonly known as the Giriama Uprising. She was arrested the following year in 2013 and was locked in prison along with Wanje wa Mwadorikola. The pair managed to escape after 5 years, walking more than 700 kilometers back home. It is to no surprise that when she was later recaptured, her tribe bore the consequences as houses were burnt and many members shot however, Mekatilili walked these several hundred kilometers back; the British were occupied by the second world war at this time and relaxed their control. Through this experience, Mekatilili achieved not only freedom for her people but also love and her efforts are celebrated on the 9th of August each year.