New work: In the footsteps of the Maasai, Tanzania. Mixed media on paper

As a South African with a strong bond with Africa I enrolled in a charity trek through Tanzania, following the footsteps of the Maasai tribe. The group was led by Maasai warriors, who took us through the sacred foothills of 2590m Mount Longdio and across the floor of the Great Rift Valley, passing through many remote Maasai settlements.

There was a severe drought at the time of the trek, and the parched land gave no relief to the groups of women we saw struggling to pull their weary cattle. The stench of death was overwhelming, it awakened in me a feeling I shall never forget.

In the midst of this dry dusty land, however, the women we passed were always wrapped in their traditional brightly coloured cloths, and adorned in ornate tribal beadwork. Despite their hardships and desperate struggle these women were beautiful. Their outer beauty, strength and strong inner core captivated me.

On returning to my life in London, I continue to carry these women with me. I think about these women, who are so strong, so adorned and whose lives are so harsh. In each of my mixed media works I try to capture the individual spirit and tell the story of their beauty and their struggle, because these women deserve to be recognised.

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