American music legend Madonna, also known as Madonna Louise Ciccone, recently made a visit to Kenya and created a stunning mural in the Kibera area of Nairobi. The Grammy-award winning artist shared photos and videos of her creating the mural, which she described as a “tree of life,” on her Instagram account.
The mural was created in honor of Kennedy Odede, the founder of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). Madonna praised Odede for the work he has done for the organization, which he created when he was a child living in the slums of Nairobi to improve the lives of families living in challenging conditions. SHOFCO is a grassroots movement that provides filtered water, education, and loans for men and women to start businesses in both Nairobi and New York City. It also aims to put a stop to gender-based violence by empowering women, taking legal action, and providing a safe space for them to rebuild their lives.
During her visit to Kibera, Madonna also took a tour of the area, visiting the SHOFCO Kibera School for Girls, a library, and an art gallery. In one of her Instagram stories, she even posed in front of a motorbike with the inscription “Jesus saves,” captioning the photo “Facts.”
Madonna’s visit to Kenya follows her stay in Malawi, where she spent the New Year. Through her organization, Raising Malawi, she has been working to support orphans in the country by providing them with education, medical care, food, shelter, and psychosocial support.