Project
Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are
The African proverb “ubuntu (uu-boon-tuu, Nguni-Bantu),” meaning humanity towards others, served as the cornerstone for Tijay Mohammed’s residency project, Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are. Anchored in West African culture and traditions, the project focused attention on the South Bronx’s connection to migration and created a gathering space at the Kelly Street Collaborative to celebrate women, particularly those living within the community. Primarily using African wax fabric and incorporating other assorted materials and objects, participants created mixed-media portraits in tribute to loved ones, neighbors, and other women in their lives. Stories were shared throughout the process and captured through audio and visual documentation to accompany the portraits.
