Kin

Originally it celebrated the rich vibrancy of modern culture within the African continent, now Kin is a collection of portraits celebrating the modern cultural clothing within Africa. Exploring how diverse cultures are expressed and remembered, while creating a space for people to experience how diverse cultures are expressed and remembered in the modern day.

Rooted in my experience as someone born in England with African heritage, Kin reflects on the relationship between personal identity and cultural connection. Inspired by my mixed South African-Caribbean background and the nomadic ways of the Fulani tribe, the series uses portraiture to honour the beauty, individuality, and ongoing evolution of African cultural expression.

Despite the oppression of colonialism, many African cultures have continued to preserve their traditional dress throughout generations. Kin celebrate the resilience of cultural identity through people’s individuality.

Kin’s goal is not only to connect people through identity but also to represent a family beyond blood relations. Reflecting the idea that African cultural expression is not something fixed in the past, but is something continually evolving, personal, and deeply connected to communities.