Yieyio wa Ushanga — Mother of Beads

She is more than an artisan. She is a mother, a keeper of tradition, and a cultural icon.
For years, her hands have shaped beads into stories, weaving heritage into colour and form. Through my ethereal whirls, I painted her not just as she is, but as the energy she radiates—contagious creativity that has lifted her community and strengthened the cultural fabric of Kenya.

Maasai women like her are not only sustaining identity, they are reshaping economies. According to the Kenya Women’s Empowerment Report (National Treasury, 2020), only 29% of Kenyan women aged 15–49 are considered empowered in decision-making and control over resources—yet beadwork and cultural enterprise remain some of the most powerful ways rural women create livelihoods, independence, and community growth.

This portrait is a celebration of that strength. Of the beads that carry history. Of women whose creativity sustains families and futures.

Curatorial Note:

In Lee Amimo’s stunning portrait, "Yieyio wa Ushanga — Mother of Beads," the viewer is met with the powerful and unwavering gaze of a Maasai matriarch. Set against a backdrop of flat, vibrant red, the subject commands the space with a quiet dignity. Amimo employs his signature, meticulous technique, rendering the woman’s skin not as a flat surface but as a living texture composed of countless, intricate blue-black swirls. This mesmerizing pattern visually echoes the circular nature of the beads she wears, suggesting that her identity and cultural adornments are one and the same—inextricably woven into the very fabric of her being. The painting is a testament to the artist's painstaking process, transforming a portrait into a dynamic, tactile experience.

The title itself, "Yieyio wa Ushanga," is deeply significant, combining the Maa word for mother with the Swahili word for beads. In Maasai culture, beadwork is a rich visual language that communicates social status, lineage, and personal stories. By titling the work "Mother of Beads," Amimo presents her subject as more than an individual; she is a custodian of culture, a living archive whose adornments carry the weight of generations. This portrait becomes a profound homage to the vital role of women as the keepers of heritage, celebrating the resilience, beauty, and deep-rooted identity embodied in this formidable elder.

Disclaimer: 

A portion of the profits from the auction will go to the subject and her amazing community of traditional artisans in Kenya.