This episode of our 2021 video series is an introspective account of non-binary artist Janice Iche’s state of mind as they reflect on how the journey through 2020 was and their dreams of what 2021 holds for life.

This video will be screened at Rewire Festival 2021. The video has thus been taken down temporarily and will be accessible on this page after the festival again.

As a non-binary, Kenyan-Tanzanian queer artist from Mombasa, Kenya, Janice sought community, growth and belonging after their move to Nairobi which was hundreds of miles away from home. This move, made in earnest, love, and expectation, brought with it a great deal of despair. The journey back home and the time they took to heal is where truest form of Iche has begun to bloom. Without any illusions of what life holds, and building from the ground up, we ask what 2021 means to Iche.

Janice Iche

Janice Iche is a non-binary Kenyan-Tanzanian queer artist from Mombasa, Kenya. 1995. They/she. Janice began their professional journey in 2015, performing their music on multiple stages such as Blankets & Wine with various local and international artists as well as writing, recording, and releasing music as a singer and songwriter, including their singles «Be Nice» (2018) and «So Tired» (2019). They picked up a camera in 2017 and began taking photographs professionally, initially focusing on documentary photography then settling on portraiture.

In 2018, Janice began their art (painting) career, having exhibitions at One Off Contemporary Gallery, The Attic Art Space (Kevenaar Art Consultants) and Kioko Art Gallery. In 2019, they held a live performance piece at MUZE Club and became a selected artist for Ostrale Residency and Biennale in Dresden, Germany. They are currently indulged in music production and DJing, with their latest self-produced and self-released projects being «Siku Mpya» (Single) and Maajabu Ya Musa (EP) and her latest mixes being The Maajabu Ya Musa MIX, Diamond Beach New Year 2021 MIX and DJ ICHE’S NAIROBI VOL.1 MIX.

Follow Janice Iche online via Instagram, Twitter, Bandcamp, or Linktree.

Credits

A film by Emma NZioka
Written and narrated by Janice Iche
Camera assistant: Jacqueline Wanjau
Transport: DJ Miss Ray
Gear: Joe Mathai
Additional Footage Pexeler
Special Thanks The Terrace, Distant Relatives Kilifi

Jacqueline Wanjau is freelance creative and a community organizer. She is also a professional photographer and talent manager working with artists such as Coco Em, DJ IV, and more, and is a part time actress. Jackie volunteers as an outreach coordinator for the Shukrani Project – a community impact platform working within the informal settlement west of the Nairobi Central Business District. An example of the community work she does can be depicted in the short film The Empty Cup where Jackie acts as a community first responder dealing with the effects of her day-to-day work. Follow her on Instagram.