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Contact:
Sayari Collective
Martin Kaona Mobile
P.O. Box 305-80200 Malindi, Kenya
Martin Kaona is a photographer, cultural archivist, and curator based in Malindi, Kenya. His practice blends visual storytelling, digital archiving, and installation to preserve and reimagine Indigenous knowledge systems, with a particular focus on the endangered rituals, music, and oral traditions of the Mijikenda people along Kenya’s coast.
Founder of Sayari Collective, Martin develops projects that merge community-based archiving, intercultural collaboration, and intergenerational dialogue. His ongoing project, Ngoma na Kumbukumbu (Drums and Memory), documents sacred instruments, songs, and rituals through photography, sound, and film, creating living archives that bridge past and present while fostering dialogue across generations and geographies.
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Sayari means planet in Kiswahili, reflecting its vision as a gathering space for Earth’s diverse indigenous cultures and cultural practitioners. Founded by Martin Kaona in Malindi, Kenya, Sayari Collective is a multidisciplinary arts and research initiative dedicated to visual storytelling, archiving, and intercultural exchange. It's rooted in Martin’s practice in community-based documentation of endangered indigenous traditions, rituals, oral histories, music, and sacred practices, with a special focus on the Mijikenda community of Kenya’s coast.
Sayari Collective facilitates residencies, collaborative exchanges, and artistic experimentation across disciplines. These bring together local and international artists, storytellers, and cultural practitioners to share knowledge, techniques, and creative processes. It serves as both a living archive and a platform for innovation, bridging generations and cultural memory while fostering new artistic forms—ensuring that indigenous knowledge systems are preserved while engaging with global conversations. For collaborative residency projects, Sayari Collective serves as the host organization, providing accommodation, working space, local guidance, and opportunities for community engagement and public showcases.
Vision:
To be a leading cultural hub where Indigenous memory, creativity, and resilience inspire new forms of art, knowledge, and community.
Mission
Preserving and reimagining Indigenous knowledge through storytelling, archiving, and cultural exchange.
Core Values
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Cultural Preservation – Safeguarding Indigenous knowledge, rituals, instruments, and oral traditions for future generations.
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Community & Collaboration – Centering intergenerational dialogue, co-creation, and collective memory.
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Intercultural Exchange – Building bridges across cultures and geographies through residencies, artistic exchanges, and shared practices.