Wananichunga (Swahili for “They guard me”) is a body of work by Jordan Rita Seruya Awori (JRSA) that reflects on the quiet guardianship of women across generations—those who came before, those who stand alongside, and those yet to come. Drawing from images of women from various communities and backgrounds, the series becomes a meditation on identity shaped through connection, inheritance, and presence.

The portraits are rendered in a monochromatic, sketch-like style to evoke a sense of universality—an intentional softening of individuality to highlight collective strength and shared experience. Certain areas of each figure are subtly elevated using a 3D effect, inviting the viewer to engage with the work not just visually, but physically—to feel the presence of these women as layered, dimensional, and close. This interplay between flatness and depth becomes a metaphor for the layered nature of identity itself.

Rather than offering fixed definitions, the works hold space for fluidity—for the ways identity is shaped through memory, influence, and collective care. For JRSA, this sense of being held is not only personal but cultural, grounded in a lineage that affirms rather than confines. While the work speaks to her experience as an African woman, Wananichunga gestures toward a broader understanding of identity as something relational—built and sustained through those who guard, witness, and walk beside us.

The ‘In the Name of Africanness’ collection delves into the artist's ongoing reflection on her African identity, shaped by her roots in Kenya and her current experience in Germany. Through these works, the artist interrogates the complexities of what it means to be "African enough," exploring the nuances of cultural belonging and the multifaceted nature of Africanness. With each piece, she questions: What defines her connection to Kenya? What elements shape her understanding of being African? The collection invites viewers to contemplate the intricate layers of identity and the fluid boundaries that frame what it means to truly belong.