£14,000
Throughout 2024-2025, Pie Herring spent time living and working alongside the women of Makongeni Village in Diani, on the south coast of Kenya. There, a group of women formed the Makongeni Beekeepers, harvesting honey and protecting the mangroves – an ecosystem vital to their coast. They built this initiative to support women in their community, many of whom are single mothers or widows.
The artist explains “The title, Mafiga Matatu, refers to the customary three stones that hold a cooking pot steady over the fire. Remove one, and the fire collapses – a metaphor for stability, balance, and survival. For me, it reflects the role these women play in their community.
They are the foundation: mothers, craftswomen, organisers, and caretakers of unpaid household labour that sustains village life while men often work elsewhere. They carry responsibility not only for their families but also for the initiatives like the Beekeepers, which generate income and protect the environment.”
Through sales of her artwork, Herring continues to support Makongeni Village and their beekeeping initiative. The artist created this painting as tribute to the women’s spirit, grace, and the radiance they bring to the everyday.
