Manda
2005
24x33x6cm
£150 inclusive of freight
Notes
Manda is a small island opposite Lamu. The people of the village of Shella on Lamu island originally came from Takwa on Manda island but had to abandon their town several hundred years ago when the fresh water dried up. It has red earth and though it lacks fresh water has in recent times been a place for farming and coral block quarrying. In the last few years it has also become home to wealthy foreigners who are building their houses on the coastline with varying degrees of sensitivity to the environment. It has a stunningly beautiful natural coastline which attracts large amounts of driftwood from as far as the Pacific. A local farmer friend of mine found a message in a bottle from a little girl from some Pacific islands. When I looked at this small island like piece and its red colouring with its gilded edges I thought about the spread of opulence on Manda. And Manda and Lamu have always been home to beautiful artefacts brought there by dhow from Arabia , India , China and quite possibly Indonesia .