"And then of course there were those men who would pile their woes only onto prostitutes assuming, quite correctly, that they shared with them the secret of knowing what it truly felt to be wanton and would find an understanding ear."

I am a third generation Kenyan Indian, born and brought up in Nakuru. In the Indian subcontinent, gourds are used as resonating chambers for musical instruments of the lute family such as the sitar and tanpura. In Africa the gourds are used as vessels. I find my creative passion in this contrast, and the fusion of African and Indian traditions. My team and I work out of my studio in Nakuru where we convert the dried gourds into the visual delight that you see.

I currently work with eight women. Most of them were unable to complete higher education because of lack of resources. Some have vocational training but this project has taught them new skills. Needless to add, of course, it has been a learning experience for me too. I have worked with most of these women over the last ten years.