MERKATO INSTALLATION
Merkato is a colorful vibrant film/installation work that solidified my point of view as an
artist, cultural worker and documentarian. The film journeys through the largest Open-
Air market in Africa, exploring five delicate human stories faced with eviction at the helm
of modern development. In the installation, I created a mock of the actual market in a
pop-up location. This allowed audiences to engage deeply with the narrative of the film,
photography and soundscape in the physical space. Gaining support from cultural
institutions such as The Leeway Foundation to create the installation around this project
allowed me to reach a greater impact on my community. I invited local open air vendors
to the installation screenings to share their similar experiences of gentrification in
Philadelphia. This was a powerful demonstration of social change that continues to
inspire to me to use my films and photographs to engage our communities with larger
cultural social issues.
