Kibera, where I was born and raised, is a vast slum settlement located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is said to be home to between 350,000 and one million people, depending on who you ask. This has given rise to its reputation as “the largest slum in Africa.” Yet behind these vague statistics, Kibera has countless stories waiting to be told.
Seen from afar, the neighbourhood is a dense jungle of rundown corrugated rooftops, indistinguishable huts huddled closely together with TV antennas and electricity poles projecting into the air. While Kibera is hardly a continuous cycle of poverty and hardship, this has always been the dominant visual narrative. Within its endlessly sprawling and captivating landscapes, Kibera is a mix of diversity, vibrancy, and great capabilities.
This project presents life in Kibera from a socio-economic, cultural, political, and environmental point of view, as seen from an insider’s perspective. Through these images, we see and feel dynamic moments of everyday life, identity, and individuality, and the uniqueness of representation in moments always seen but often ignored or unnoticed.
Artist Bios
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Brian Otieno
Brian Otieno is a freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Nairobi, Kenya. He was raised in Kibera, where he documents the everyday realities of ordinary life through his photo project KiberaStories, which he started in 2013. His passion and commitment lie in capturing the stories of the vibrant community of Kibera and attempting to look beyond the chaotic appearance of his hometown and depict a broader spectrum of life from socio-economic, cultural, political, and environmental perspectives. Otieno has exhibited his project KiberaStories in Paris, Kampala, Lisbon, and New York. He was among the 12 visual storytellers selected for the World Press Photo East Africa Masterclass and has been selected to attend The New York Times Portfolio Review. Since 2017, he has been a contributor to Everyday Africa—a collective of photographers sharing images from across the continent aimed at undermining stereotypes and clichés. He works regularly for Agence France-Presse and has contributed visual stories to media outlets including The New York Times, Al Jazeera, BBC, Der Spiegel, and Roads & Kingdoms.
Organizations
Kibera Stories
Featuring: Brian Otieno
Curated by: James Estrin David Gonzalez
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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