Ndani

An autoethnographic project born from the centuries old teaching of the 'kungwi'. The kungwi is an esteemed figure within Swahili society who is the bearer of the womans secrets, manners of society, and the continuation and preservation of the cultures secrets that allow it to persist despite numerous sieges of the Swahili culture and language.

This zine is meant to be an opener of the teachings of kungwi as many of the teachings are not allowed to be fully revealed in public. I was initiated by the kungwi and because of that I am able now to continue the teachings and take on 'mwari' or students, of my own. The need to publish these teachings are vital in the current globalized landscape, as many teachings are disappearing and forgotten. Ndani is proof of the existence and persistence of the practices taught.