The latest project by photographer and digital artist, Osborne Macharia.
This is the story of a special unit of 4 women in a small village within Kipipiri Forest. Theyย were the wives toย 4 of the Mau Mau generals and just like their men, they too had leadership roles. This women would be endowedย in the most unique hair styles wheneverย a full moon was approaching. To the ordinary folk this was normal butย to the villagers ofย Kipipiri their hair style was symbolic.ย Little is known of the 4 brave women till nowโฆ..
MWENDE:ย She was the lead entertainer and the only one among the 4 who never went into the forest. Insteadย she stayed behind preparing the women in the village in welcoming their men back home. She was a greatย dancer with powerful vocals and would lead the women in song and dance as the men approached home. Sheย designed her own mouth piece that had pipes connected to vocal resonators in her hair. 
ACHI:ย She was the chief cook in the village and in charge of transporting food to the Mau Mau fighters. Herย hair was weaved to support carrying baskets of food. At a glance one could tell she had a very strong posturedย neck. She always prepared an assortment of meals to the fighterโs liking. 
CHEP:ย She was 2nd in command and was always behind Bobo. Being the arms bearer, she was a crafted fighterย with more than normal night vision. Her work was to smuggle knives and other blunt weapons for sharpeningย to and from the Mau Mau hideouts as well as fresh supply of weapons inside her hair. 
BOBO:ย She was the leader of the Kipipiri 4. Once she did her hair, she would walk majestically and gracefullyย across the village without uttering a word. This was a message to the village women that at midnight theyย were going to visit the men deep in the forest. Her hair was twisted and curled in a complexย design to form aย route map to the caves that only her 2nd in command would interpret. Never did they get lost or caught.
Props + Costume designย + Talent Scout + Production /Kevo Abbra
Make Up Artist /ย Valary Mdeizi
Hair Stylist /ย Richard Kinyua + Corrine Muthoni
Illustrator /ย Jeffrey Onyango
Assistants /ย Victor Ndalo + Jared Maina + Joseph Kyule.
