Awuor Onyango
…that’s why it’s called B is for bodies. It’s supposed to be kind of like an unofficial feminist alphabet that’s accessible to everyone. I just wanted to have a conversation with kids, but also with everyone, because I didn’t think it was a conversation that was happening in the Kenyan space about all these intersections and all these histories in a way that wasn’t an academic paper. It’s a way that invites you in, is accessible, is easy to read, to color, to talk about, to distribute, so that hopefully other conversations grow from it, and the conversations that grow from it can be conversations with a seven-year old, or conversations with a 70-year-old, who remembers one of the historical figures, or one of the movements. Awuor Onyango, Creator 2023
Awuor Onyango is a writer and multidisciplinary artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Their work is concerned with (re)claiming public spaces erased/appropriated and/or disallowed to people considered black, femme, and other. Through writing, design, photography, experimental film, multisensorial installation, and fine art, they explore issues of access, transgression, shame, and discomfort of the (continental) black femme. Awuor’s recent exhibitions include: Body of Land, Glasgow international 2021, Library of Silence ii: Stellenbosch Trienale, Genesis: Autonomous bodies, Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth, A Celebration of Queer Love, Appropriation and other practises, HBK Braunschweig (2018), School of Anxiety, Jo’Burg Art Fair, Johannesburg (2017), Freedom Corner, Nairobi (2018), Berlin Biennale of Contemporary Art, Berlin (2018), Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain Pop Up, Nairobi (2018).
B is for Bodies
Awuor, an artist, created an illustrated coloring book zine and a podcast that delves into inclusive and diverse feminist histories in Kenya. The zine, titled “B for bodies,” serves as an introduction to understanding the body as a voice and highlights the intersection of LGBTQ, feminist, and disability actions. Through exploring various figures and movements in Kenyan history, the zine examines the role of different types of bodies in protest and movement work.
Awuor brings to life the courageous stories of those who have fought tirelessly for equality and justice. Her illustrations capture the essence of the movement, evoking a sense of power and hope that is truly inspiring. As readers dive into the pages of “B for bodies,” they are transported to a world where the underrepresented are given a voice, where the marginalized are given a platform, and where change is possible. Through this work, Awuor has created a space where everyone is welcome and where each and everybody is celebrated. With her zine and podcast, she has opened up a cross-generational dialogue to be accessed by individuals of a wide age range, from a seven-year-old to a 70-year-old! Something they view as essential for progress and change. She has shown us that our bodies can be a powerful force for good, and that is truly something to celebrate.
Access and the ways in which working together across differences can strengthen movement work and how having difficult conversations in productive ways and being open to them can build stronger movements. Awuor Onyango, Creator 2023
Awour is also open for collaborations and/or requests to host this resource in alternative spaces.
Coloring Book Audio Description podcast
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