Adobe Akrobat – Strit vashon, 2019

Wycliffe Opondo  

We can see in this work of art that its creator is a former sign painter. Wycliffe Opondo (called Wiki) comes from Kibera in Nairobi, supposedly the largest slum in Africa. The UN once estimated that more than 700,000 people live in this slum. However, Kenyan statisticians have proven through a census that there are "only" about 200,000 to 250,000 people living in an area of about 2.5 to 3 square kilometres. So on average about 4 people share a hut of about 8 square meters.

The hygienic and sanitary conditions are catastrophic, a walk to the public toilet costs about 4 cents. Drinking water is supplied in canisters. Meanwhile, some of the inhabitants "sterilize" the drinking water by decanting it into drinking bottles and exposing it to the sun. Violence is of course part of everyday life.

However, this is only one side of the slum, the other side is that it is also a large community where people live, love and also laugh. Kibera is also a place full of energy, with thousands of young people who want to make a difference and are creative in countless initiatives.

It is against this background that wikis art must be seen. Most of the time his paintings are very funny and humorous. The language is often reduced, even misspelled or reads the way it is spoken. We must remember that illiteracy is still a big problem there. That's how wikis pictures are: simple, humorous - an art that refers to the daily chaos in Kenyan life and makes us laugh.