Ulendo: A Search for Belonging

Curatorial Text

Ulendo: A Search for Belonging is a timely exhibit that documents the peaks and troughs of migrating from one’s beloved home country to another in times of crisis. Emerging in an era marked by conflict, genocide, and widespread social upheaval, Daudi M. Yves’ debut solo brings our attention to forcibly displaced communities in Zambia. With roots stemming from Congo, Daudi M. Yves pays tribute to his onwards journey that caused him and his loved ones to find refuge in Zambia. The country’s pivotal geopolitical role in the liberation movements of the SADC region underpins the exhibition as Daudi weaves personal and collective narratives from Congo, Palestine, and Sudan into one interconnected tapestry.

Using materials such as bed sheets, tapestries, reed mats, and paper, Daudi creates a sensory experience that recalls both micro and macro scenes of perilous journeys made in search of belonging. Rivers, mountains, and shelters feature prominently, referencing both the violences and aftermaths of these journeys. While the artist engages the senses in the experiences of loss, solitude, and the unfamiliarity of a new land, he also pays homage to the connections formed, the tales relayed, and the community and belonging forged in an otherwise hostile terrain.