Nairobi Noize X Luku Store: Exporting Kenyan Fashion & Culture, with James Kagima & Francis Kinyanjui

Francis: I was born & raised here, in Kenya. Went to primary & high school here, then when I graduated, I got the opportunity to study abroad. And I’d say that the first time I realized that I was black or that racism is a thing was actually when I moved to Europe. I think when you grow up in Kenya, it’s never a thing or an issue. You never feel like you’re a minority or from a group that’s looked down upon. So that triggered something in me. I was thinking about it recently, even just reading authors like Chimamanda & other African authors who also describe that journey; it imparted something in me where I felt like there’s a narrative of Africa, which is one of dependency, poverty, all that. And, of course, we do have our issues. There’s a big income inequality problem, for example. But there’s another aspect of Kenya and Africa in general that’s not highlighted at all. So for me, with this project & Luku & the other projects that I’m working on, I want to explore the potential of African youth. My idea with Luku is to represent the streetwear brands from Kenya & give them an international platform, no matter how small, and allow them to become more visible, and try to change the current narrative. <a href="https://medium.com/@whowhatwhereke/nairobi-noize-x-luku-store-exporting-kenyan-fashion-culture-with-james-kagima-francis-e5daf702536f">Click Here</a>