STORI YETU

Our Story

STORI YETU

Here's where we've come from.

Still Waters by Maggie Mucheru 2020

Sekoya was birthed as Suza World in 2016 by Sharon Zarita, a craft artist and creative economy advocate. Suza World produced customized craft invitations and stationery to enhance the guest experience in social gatherings. In it’s two years of operation the organization produced over 2000 craft items. It initiated a community arts program “Tengeza” (to make in Swahili) for deaf children run voluntarily by creative entrepreneurs in Kenya.

Programming was paused in 2018 when Zarita left Kenya for postgraduate studies in Arts Management in Canada. Through knowledge acquired in her studies and working with different arts organizations in Canada, Zarita resolved to equip budding artists with the right professional and psychosocial tools for them to scale their careers. Hence the rebirth of Suza World in its new name Sekoya.

Sekoya has been coined from ‘sequoia’ - the redwood tree species that is known to support the life of other species. It symbolises wellness, safety, wisdom, communication and longevity. We write it ‘Sekoya’ to reflect its connotative pronunciation in Swahili, the most intercultural language spoken in East Africa. Just like its inspiration from the redwood tree, Sekoya is here to walk the journey with East Africans in crafts and culture who are just beginning to identify, nurture and thrive their careers in the arts. For us, this creative journey is better when not walked in solitude and richer when there is a professional cushion to lean into.

Our Achievements

We are driven by an attitude of firmness and tap into creativity
as a means to achieving it.

105

Children Impacted By Tengeza

15

Artists Involved

10

Volunteers Participated

Team Yetu

Creative. Driven. Trailblazers.

Sharon Zarita

Founder and Managing Director

Edwin Maina

Creative Arts Photographer

Michelle Adhiambo

Marketing Lead

Ivix D. Kioi

Digital Content Manager

Jackline Kidaha

Programs Manager

Nancy Muttai

Art Director

Solo Kiguru

Lead Graphic Designer

Muindi Kimanzi

Managing and Copy Editor, Sekoya Magazine

Collaborate with us to strengthen the foundations of the creative industry in East Africa.