The first-ever exhibition of kuru art by female artists of Botswana opened to the public starting Thursday, to promote both cultural preservation and women's empowerment.
The exhibition, held at the Botswana National Museum in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, featured 70 artworks by 10 women artists from San people, believed to be one of Southern Africa's oldest indigenous groups, and will last until Dec. 27.
The exhibition, titled "Women of Kuru: The Gathering," shows the artists' deep connection to nature as well as the ancestral wisdom that binds them to their history. It provides an intimate view into the lives and families of the Gantsi people -- a conglomeration of ethnic groups, including the San -- in the Kalahari Desert in western Botswana, demonstrating how their art is more than simply a source of income but also a powerful expression of cultural identity.
The Kuru Art Project, founded in 1990, has supported the marginalized San people to improve their lives and promote, preserve, and strengthen their cultural values through art.
