Nadja Wohlleben

My recent news, publications, shoots and visual inspirations

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 21, 2017: Helen Wairimu, 106, walks home after a 'Shosho Jikinge' class. In 2016, when she was 105 years old, a heavy-set, young man came to Helen’s hut and raped her. Helen still participates in the class every week, eager to encourage the other women to train harder through her role as a survivor. . . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. . . . . . #shoshojikinge #femaleempowerment #empower #women #womenempowerment #womenfightback #strongwomen #selfdefence #nomeansno #nomeansnoworldwide #Ujamaaafrica #kenya #nairobi #hiv #rape #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #reportage #reportagespotlight #kibera #everydayafrica #africa #candid #lensculture #natgeoyourshot #canon #photography  (at Korogocho)

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Nairobi, KENYA, March 2, 2017: Flora Masista (C), 64, practices a self-defense technique, whilst screaming 'Nooo!' during a 'Shosho Jikinge’ class in the Kibera township. Flora has been training with the other Shoshos for five years and has since applied various tricks she learned: she has escaped potential attackers by lying, tricking and negotiating her way out of dangerous situations. . . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. (at Kibera, Nairobi Area, Kenya)

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 23, 2017: In Kibera, the second largest township in Africa, a participant of the 'Shosho Jikinge' (Engl.: “Grandmother defend yourself”) group practices a technique to break free from a grip. . . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. (at Kibera, Nairobi Area, Kenya)

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 28, 2017: A woman walks along a street in the Korogocho township, where elderly ladies have been a target of sexual violence, as a superstition persists, which says that having sex with a grandmother will cure one from HIV and wash off all criminal sins. . . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’.  (at Korogocho)

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 21, 2017: Beatrice Njeri Murange (C), 71, leads a sung prayer before the 'Shosho Jikinge' (Engl.: "Grandmother defend yourself') class in the Korogocho township begins. Beatrice has successfully applied various self-defence skills she learned since joining the group five years ago. Nowadays, she feels confident and comfortable when walking through the streets of the township. . . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. (at Korogocho)

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 28, 2017: Helen Wairimu, 106, is the oldest participant of the ‘Shosho Jikinge’ (Engl.: ‘Grandmother defend yourself’) group in the Korogocho township. A rape survivor, Helen has been training self-defence techniques with around 20 other ladies, aged between 55-106 years, for six years. In 2016, a heavy-set, young man came to Helen’s hut and raped her. Helen still participates in the class every week, eager to encourage the other women to train harder through her role as a survivor. . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the participants learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. (at Korogocho)

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Nairobi, KENYA, February 20, 2017: Elizabeth Kamau, 60, inside her hut in the Korogocho township with one of her ten grandchildren and the child of her adopted daughter. "I like being a good role model to children by showing them that a woman can be strong and empowered", she says. Elizabeth has been training with the 'Shosho Jikinge' (Engl.: 'Grandmother defend yourself') group since five years and has successfully applied self-defence techniques to fight off potential sexual attackers. . In the Korogocho and Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya, one in four women are raped. Older women in particular have been targets in these small villages, as some young men, often under the influence of drugs and alcohol, believe a widespread superstition: that having sex with a grandmother cures HIV and washes off all sins. Recently, with few options, elderly women have begun to fight off these rapists using self-defence techniques. Organized by the international NGO No Means No Worldwide, in collaboration with Ujamaa Africa, a local NGO, groups known as the Shosho Jikinge (“grandmother defend yourself”) have been formed. There, the members, aged between 55-106 years, learn how to identify potential attackers, use their voices, trick their way out of dangerous situations, and fight back. . From my latest photo essay ‘SHOSHO JIKINGE - Grandmothers in Nairobi’s townships fight off rapists’. (at Korogocho)

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From my latest photo essay 'Shosho Jikinge' about elderly women fighting off rapists in Nairobi's townships. Nairobi, KENYA, February 23, 2017: Everlyne Odhiambu (C), 36, one of the 'Shosho Jikinge' group instructors in the Kibera township, demonstrates techniques to escape potential attackers and encourages the participants to use their voices and scream "NOOO"in case of an assault. #shoshojikinge #femaleempowerment #strongwomen #selfdefense #nomeansnoworldwide #ujamaaafrica #kenya #nairobi #townships #hiv #rape #womenfightback #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #kibera (at Kibera)

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Happy to see my latest story 'Shosho Jikinge' about elderly women in Nairobi's townships fighting off rapists featured in the September issue of VICE Magazine: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evvm7e/grandmothers-in-nairobi-are-fighting-off-rapists-with-self-defense-techniques-v24n7 Thank you @vice @elizabethrenstrom @greyhutton #femaleempowerment #fightback #shoshojikinge #nomeansnoworldwide #ujamaaafrica #kenya #nairobi #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #nadjawohlleben #feature #publication (at Korogocho)

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Day 5 of my @burndiary Instagram takeover | Tonight I finally felt a bit better and had to get out of the house. I went to see a beautiful light installation by James Turrell, the infamous American light artist, in the chapel of Dorotheenstädtischer Cemetery in Berlin. The exhibition occurs during the blue hour just before dusk. Turrell plays with the concept of biblical light: starting with blue light, the chapel is slowly filled with pinks, oranges and reds, mimicking that of a real sunset. A truly divine experience! #jamesturrell #lightinstallation #nofilter #lettherebelight #takemetochurch #berlin #nadjawohlleben #art #burndiary (at Dorothenstädtischer Friedhof)

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Meet my dear friend @alanpaulpeters. I made this portrait at the breathtaking Yellow Fog light installation by artist Olafur Eliasson at Am Hof square in the old city of Vienna during a short gateway last weekend. Every day at dusk the installation intrigues with an amazing play of light and color. Eliasson is one of the most renowned contemporary artists. Yellow Fog was first shown in New York in 1998 and is now on permanent display exclusively in the Austrian capital. #olafureliasson #yellowfog #lightinstallation #makeportraits #portrait #travelgram #burndiary #austria #vienna #nadjawohlleben (at Yellow Fog)

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I just returned from a weekend trip to Vienna, Austria. Local friends took me to Le Loft Bar @ Sofitel Stephansdom to see the amazing views. I love sky bars and generally always look for the highest spot when I visit a new city to get the best sense of the urban setting. #whataview #justwow #vienna #leloftbar #stephansdom #travelgram #nadjawohlleben (at Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom)

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Super excited and grateful to take over @burndiary instagram feed for this week. Follow along as I take you on a visual journey. Day 1 | This is a self-portrait I just made for you to get to know me a bit better. #selfportrait #helloworld #burndiary #nadjawohlleben #flowerupyourlife (at Berlin, Germany)

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Nadja Wohlleben – 92 – Helga’s Disappearance

Nadja Wohlleben 92 – Helga’s Disappearance My grandmother, Helga von Randow, was 92 years old when she was diagnosed with dementia. Shortly afterwards, she was admitted into a closed medical facili…

Delighted to see my essay '92 - Helga's Disappearance' published in BURN Magazine today!

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'Cheeky'. Never stop smiling, no matter what. Humor is one of the most important ingredients for a happy life! In this picture i was joking around with some pupils at Jobenpha community school in Nairobi, Kenya. Loved their cheekiness! #neverstopsmiling #cheekysmile #tbt #travelgram #instagood #goodlife #asmilecanchangetheworld #nadjawohlleben #kenya (at Mathare Slums)

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'There is freedom waiting for you. On the breezes of the sky. And you ask "what if I fall?" Oh but my darling, what if you fly?" - Erin Hanson. #parkour #freerunning #london #iwannaflyaway #freedom #goodlife #sportsphotography #nadjawohlleben #instagood #instamood #tbt #love #jump #athlete (at London, United Kingdom)

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Rock n Roll, baby! Pretty awesome to see the #redhotchilipeppers live in #berlin last Thursday. They still got it for sure! #rocknrollbaby #concert #photooftheday #livemusic #rockon #iphoneonly #instagood #tbt #goodlife (at Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin)