Mombasa Woman Creating Beautiful Mandala Art Says She Stumbled On Talent By Mistake

• Growing up, Mariam Suleiman enjoyed drawing in the sand, unaware she was building a talent she'd monetise in her adulthood
• That was until she went to study in China and visited a temple with Mandala art, igniting a passion she had left to rot
• Upon her return, she started doing murals on empty spaces and has become a sought-after artist, even by government agencies

Mariam Suleiman does mandala art, a passion she stumbled upon by mistake and has become a source of livelihood.

Born and raised in Mombasa, Mariam loved drawing on surfaces from childhood, but it did not occur to her she would make money out of the circles she drew.

Inspired by China

Mariam's interest in Mandala art was sparked when she went to study in China and ran into a temple with cultural drawings.

In an interview with Dada Next Door, the 27-year-old visual artist disclosed she felt compelled to replicate it when she returned home.

Her journey had begun in earnest as she started drawing for fun as a form of spiritual and religious expression.

According to her, art can take an individual to a point where they can break old habits.

"By the time you are done repeating those circles, your mind feels refreshed," she said.

Got project to paint Marikiti market

She knew her name had become a brand when she recently got a government project to create mural art to empower the creative industry.

Mariam says she didn't look for the contract and that someone saw her art and reached out to her when the project was commissioned.

"The mural was on a wall at one of those ancient buildings in Marikiti market, so I was to incorporate things like traditional spices and vegetables," she continued.

Mariam admits that as much as she was excited to get a project from such a reputable organisation, she was scared because her art was initially on canvas.

Mariam's art has grown

It was an experience she often remembers because she had to climb scuffles to work on the top part of the wall, something she had never done before.

Mariam says it also felt weird having to climb up the wall wearing an overall because she has been used to wearing buibuis since childhood.

"It felt good being this young Muslim girl in a hijab on a wall with spray guns creating art, something that is not common," she said with a smile.

Since then, Mariam's art has evolved to the point where she gets tenders to produce more functional items like household utensils, carpets, and wall hangings.

Drops of Melanin

Elsewhere, Najma, a Kenyan-Somali woman, grew up in a marginalised community and went through a rough patch in life that saw her drop out of campus and end up in hospital.

As she braved the lonely hospitalisation period, she remained sane by venting through poems, which gave birth to an emotional book that introduced her to the world.

Seven years later, Najma, now known as Drops of Melanin, is an acclaimed poet who performs worldwide and serves clients like World Vision and the UN.