Stephen Okoth, famously known as picha marangi -meaning colourful pictures- stands close to a street tailor in a flashy outfit in the Kibera Slums, Nairobi. © Donwilson Odhiambo

The New Vintage

Donwilson Odhiambo

 2021 — Nairobi, Kenya

About this series

“Growing up in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, there was always a bit of a style competition,” says 24-year-old model and visual artist Dennis Juma. “We decided to focus on vintage clothing, which wasn’t popular before.” Dennis is part of a group of young models that is drawing inspiration from the way politicians dressed in the early 1990s. “We are trying to come up with something that reminds a new generation about what came before and the respect for fashion that we need to have as Africans.” Fashion is important in African society. Dressing up in refined attire is a way for men to escape and forget the poverty that surrounds them. In their local communities, they are a source of inspiration, positivity and friendly competition. 

24-year-old model Dennis Juma, a visual artist, poses with an old vintage roadster bicycle dressed in his classic Vintage outfits in Nairobi, Kenya. © Donwilson Odhiambo
© Donwilson Odhiambo
24-year-old Dennis Juma, from Kibera, models his vintage suit in the streets. © Donwilson Odhiambo
A group of models in the streets of the Kibera Slums, dressed in their classic African Vintage outfits. © Donwilson Odhiambo
Stephen Okoth -known as picha marangi, meaning colourful pictures-poses in the streets of the Kibera Slums, Nairobi. © Donwilson Odhiambo
© Donwilson Odhiambo
Models posing next to a vintage Volkswagen Kombi Van, dressed in their classic African Vintage outfits in Nairobi, Kenya. © Donwilson Odhiambo
© Donwilson Odhiambo

Photographer: Donwilson Odhiambo
Nationality: Kenyan
Based in: Nairobi, Kenya
Website:www.donwilsonodhiambo.com
Instagram: @donwilsonofficial

Donwilson Odhiambo is a Kenyan documentary freelance photographer and photojournalist, born and raised in Nairobi Kenya. Currently, Donwilson documents the social, cultural, political, and economic activities of everyday life in Africa.

Awards
Awarded opportunity for portfolio review with famous photographers Peter DiCampo, Nana Kofi Acquah and Ricci Shryock, selected as one of 20 upcoming photographers chosen from East Africa
Awarded opportunity for photography workshop through Archive VII, one of 12 photographers chosen from entire Africa continent
Winner of the Kenya Press 2018 News Category
Winner of the Africa Slum Photo Festival 2018, Documentary Category
Shortlisted on the 2018 LagosPhoto and National Geographic portfolio review
Work displayed in the Nuku Photo Festival in Ghana
Awarded 2018 fully-funded gallery display at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
Awarded gallery display at 2019 One World Film Festival in Prague, Czech Republic