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Exhibition
Organisers
Azadi, Survivors' Voices, Stories and Images
Year
2021
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
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#EthicalStorytellingExhibition
This online exhibition shares the stories and photographs of survivors of human trafficking in Kenya. The artists took part in workshops from August to December 2020, where they created stories and images inspired by their experiences.
This exhibition is organised by Azadi, and supported by 'Survivor Voices, Stories and Images' (University of Nottingham's Rights Lab). The original project was funded by an Anti-Slavery Knowledge Network Grant.
Navigate the exhibition by clicking the photograph to go full-screen. You can read the full stories by clicking the link to each specific story.
Untitled Story - Hannah
"This was the worst moment in Sila’s life, as her relatives came and grabbed their land and other properties that their parents had left them. After Pamela’s burial, Sila was separated from her siblings as Kevin was taken by one of their uncles, while she, Vivian, Helmer and Husda were taken by an aunt. Life with the aunt was not easy as she made Sila and her sisters work as slaves since all the chores were given to them."
Untitled Story – Mariam
"Mama alimuomba tajiri wake kama hawezi kumtibu amrudishe kwao. Tajiri akamjibu afanye kazi miezi mitatu bila malipo mwisho aweze kumkatia tikiti ya kurudi kwao.Mama huyo alijuta majuto ya firauni.Akaseme ni sawa tu.Alijikaza na ugonjwa wake akafanya kazi na huzuni nyingi sana moyoni."
Untitled Story - Jane
"Days past and things never seemed to change. I told myself that it was just for sometime maybe when we get used to each other things will be easier. The time i arrived the house was very dirty and disorganised. It took me days to put it in order. After several days my body was very painful from sleepless nights and too much work. I had back pains but there was no way i could relax work had to continue no matter what."
The Attempted Journey to Saudi Arabia – S. G. K.
"'My kids, we have had a lot of problem and l choose to risk my life, i'm going to Saudi Arabia to work as a house maid so that l will be able to pay school fees and also put food on your table.' As she was talking tears rolled down her cheeks."
Story of My Life – Rahma
"One evening this guy came to my grandma’s place. They talked with granny for a very long time and the guy went each and every time this guy came home he brought us food, money and sweets [?] for me. Little did I know that the man wanted to get me attracted to himself so that he could marry me. Abdullahi [?] was his name. He was a middle-aged man, fat and tall. He was double my father’s age. So my granny married me off to him.
As I was a nine year old kid I did not know the duties of a wife. I used to play with my fellow agemates and when my husband came home he used to beat me black and blue, raped me and even strangled me. "
As I was a nine year old kid I did not know the duties of a wife. I used to play with my fellow agemates and when my husband came home he used to beat me black and blue, raped me and even strangled me. "
Crossing Over Burnt Bridges – Milliam
"The moments after are tense, followed by painful shouts and then dead silence. The village is calm and there are no lights except from this mansion which stands tall as a landmark.
Could they have known that that was the last day to see their daughter, they would just have remained home."
Could they have known that that was the last day to see their daughter, they would just have remained home."
My Hustle – Shivan
"Prostitution was neither a choice nor an option but the only way to remain alive and to survive. My womanhood was not allowed to say no and for a moment i wished I was a man/boy."
Untitled Story - Msichana Wa Kighetto
"Venye tulienda nikajikuta nimekuwa addicted na hiyo job. Nilifanya hiyo kazi ya kujiuza, na lazima ungeenda huko ukiwa umejitibu, na kujitibu lazima utumie mihadarati ndiyo uende huko ukiwa uko sawa, kichwa kiko sawa."
Miseries of Mwavita - Migot
"The bottom line is that I went looking for greener pastures but instead I will now have to carry this burden all my life."
Miseries of Mwavita - Migot
"I came from a frying pan to a boiling oil. Every day different men will come and we were assembled like goats in the market for a customer to choose and buy."
The Contempt in Her Crooked Smile – Margaret
"It made her sick and on days like today, as she sat in her room writhing in pain and digging her fingernails into her arms hoping that the blood trickling down her arms would quench the thirst of whatever demons were haunting her and have them finally leave her alone.
Whatever the future had in store for her she didn't know but she clung to the flicker of hope in the horizon. No one knew the things she had endured like her, her flaws told her story and had been her badge for a long time but now all she was hoping was to rewrite the script, accept her flaws and appreciate her gifts and most of all be proud of how well the two fit together."
Whatever the future had in store for her she didn't know but she clung to the flicker of hope in the horizon. No one knew the things she had endured like her, her flaws told her story and had been her badge for a long time but now all she was hoping was to rewrite the script, accept her flaws and appreciate her gifts and most of all be proud of how well the two fit together."
My Flawless Life – Cynthia
"One of my friend told me there was an opportunity and i was to go with her since i fit all the requirements, asked about the payment and due to my naive reasoning i never questioned her rather i felt blessed and lucky. I remember fantasizing of all the good things i would buy my grandmother and also get her out of that shack we called home for years."
Sandra’s Bad Luck - Bigeni
"In India they have a lot of taboos and beliefs. As a widow you are not allowed to live with your family or wear coloured clothes,"
Sandra’s Bad Luck - Bigeni
"Pity Sandra never knew that this was the beginning of her bad luck in life."
Untitled Story - Kibibi
"Katika safari ya maisha yangu nilipatana na kijana ambae tulipendana sana.Tulifikia katika hali ya ndoa.Hapo ndipo nilipoanza maisha yangu ya ndoa. Baada ya muda nilibeba ujauzito nikajifungua mtoto wa kike. Kwa sababu ya malezi ya mtoto wangu sikuendelea na biashara.
Mimi na mavyaa hatukuelewana. Siku moja ya ijumaa tulielekea msikitini mimi, bwanangu na mtoto wetu.Tulipokuwa tukitoka, mavyaa alituona na kutuita. Alituambia ni lazima twende hospitalini tukaone mtoto wa nduguye aliyekuwa mgonjwa na alikuwa amelazwa."
Mimi na mavyaa hatukuelewana. Siku moja ya ijumaa tulielekea msikitini mimi, bwanangu na mtoto wetu.Tulipokuwa tukitoka, mavyaa alituona na kutuita. Alituambia ni lazima twende hospitalini tukaone mtoto wa nduguye aliyekuwa mgonjwa na alikuwa amelazwa."
Fear - Khalil
"Fear is the most complex emotion that all have to deal with in our everyday life. Thanks to John, my case worker who helped me to face my fears. He was and still always there for me. He reminds me that happiness is a direction and not a place and it depends on ourselves."
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