Making Nairobi's walls speak

The improvisation and energy in the process reflects the spirit of the modern mural, graffiti and public art movements in urban areas around the world. But this piece was not without controversy. The spontaneity of the creation of the painting and the images in the mural, led to a misunderstanding between the artists and the people watching the mural's progress.

Cook innocently drew a serpent on the wall. He said it was a "beautiful dragon" but to many watching the creature come to life in the mural, including the owner of the wall, he was making a symbol of Satan. "I learnt how pictures can be interpreted in different ways," said Mr. Cook. "But it makes me much more aware of cultural differences. I think of myself as a Christian but I also have a totally different context of that symbol."

But what about creative freedom and the vision of the artists? "I’m not going to just waltz into a place and create something that people have a negative reaction to," continues Cook. "The intention is to make images where people watching the process happen, 50 people watching, are thinking, ‘This is like nothing we’ve ever seen before!’" In the end, Cook changed the dragon into a dove, a symbol of peace, brotherhood and understanding

For the final mural, AfricanColours and Africom, the International Council on African Museums, joined forces to create a mural on the building housing Africom's headquarters at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi.

Though the Museums itself is still under renovation, the site was the perfect location, according to AfricanColours’ Andrew Njoroge. "We believe that this is a perfect way to present contemporary African art at the National Museums," Njoroge said. "Africom shared our belief that murals are an important art form that should have greater exposure in Nairobi."

According to Lorna Abungu, executive director of Africom, the mural is a success. Says she, "AfricanColours presented us with the idea for a mural, when they were looking for another location around Nairobi. We thought it would be wonderful to have a mural right here at our offices. Africom supports and encourages art and cultural heritage throughout Africa. What better way to support African creativity than to have dynamic, talented artists create a unique piece of artwork on the grounds of the National Museums of Kenya?"

This gifted group included one of the youngest artists operating in Kenya, 17-year old painter Emma Zaidi, who was invited to join the group on the strength of a large wall she painted early this year in a private house in Westlands.

The Africom mural covers one entire side of the two-storey building that houses Africom as well as several other NMK offices. It is a colourful depiction of a man and a woman in silhouette, cradling a brilliant yellow-orange sun. At the foot of the male figure is the head of a bull based on a Congolese mask in the AfricanColours offices and the woman is wearing a red cloth, gold earrings and a necklace.

The entire team was instrumental in creating the mural in less than one week. "From building the scaffolding to the final stroke of the brush, everyone worked very hard to make this work happen," says Njoroge. "We finished just as the sun was setting on Sunday."

"AfricanColours proud to offer these gifts of art to the people of Nairobi," Njoroge added. "We hope this is only the beginning of more public art in Kenya and throughout Africa."

And what is the future of murals and public art in Kenya?

According to Cook, it is a bright one. "Nairobi is a dry sponge and murals are like water. Artists are looking for a way to have an impact. Here, with murals, you can do it."

The Africom mural is visible from Kipande Road in the Museum Hill area of Nairobi, Kenya.