All images © Osborne Macharia, shared with permission
Kenyan photographer Osborne Macharia traverses the realms of Afrofuturism and Eastern African geography through his newest series, Daughters of the Rift.
Macharia’s work references the Great Rift Valley, which spans Eritrea to Mozambique. Over thousands of years, major tectonic activity has shaped the geographic marvel, as the Somali plate pulls away from the Nubian plate. The divergent boundary continues to actively separate today, resulting in dramatic landscapes, frontiers, and divisions.
Exploring the nuances of beauty and tradition that perambulate within and across borders touched by the valley, Macharia’s subjects don expressive beadwork referencing tribal communities, signifying varying concepts of beauty unique to each region.
Now based in Canada, the photographer explains how growing up in Kenya has significantly impacted his work and how he experiences the world. Committed to world-building and creating characters who uplift African culture, Macharia shares with Colossal, “We have so much history and tradition (both old and new), and it only takes one to ask ‘what if.’ You’ll be surprised as to how far your imagination can take you.”
For more work, visit the artist’s website and Instagram.
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