Maggie Otieno Turns Colonial Railway Sleepers and Ghanaian Canoes into Archives at Efie Gallery, Dubai

Maggie Otieno, a sculptor based in Nairobi, is set to unveil her inaugural solo exhibition titled Sojourner: The Difference Is the Same at Efie Gallery in Dubai. This event will run from 23 September to 13 November 2026, located at Warehouse 61, Alserkal Avenue. Born in 1974 in Kenya, Otieno transitioned from painting to sculpture under the guidance of Elijah Ogira. The exhibition showcases new sleeper figures constructed from railway sleepers dating back to the 1890s, alongside another series called Wasafiri Majini, made from fragments of old fishing canoes during her residency at El Anatsui's studio in Tema, Ghana. Her art explores themes of identity and remembrance, asserting that it is journeys that shape identity, not tribal affiliations or passports, while emphasizing the significance of heritage through the Swahili proverb mwacha mila ni mtumwa.