Djuneid and Adjmal Dulo whose paintings were exhibited at the Kenzibar, Flic-en-Flac, have spent a few weeks in Mauritius before going back to Rome. Djuneid, the elder brother, will immediately move on with an exhibition around a social-art program he founded himself, Unmasking Shadows, with the participation of 30 children from the streets of Nairobi. Adjmal will accompany him before resuming sociology courses at Colchester University in the UK.

The least one can say is that the two brothers are on the same wavelength on issues concerning cultural relativity. They have also done some globetrotting when their family moved from country to country.

When their parents initially went to Kenya, they were teenagers and both went to international schools. Adjmal had the good luck to be in lower classes with a small number of students among which there were some Kenyans. Djuneid was in a school with more foreigners where he had some experience of participating in theatrical productions. ?It was at this school that I decided I would become an artist. I had to illustrate an English poem; the feedback encouraged me in that choice?.

The striking contrast between the well-off and the poor in Nairobi was a great shock for him. ?The disparity is so huge. People fight to survive in the streets amidst a modern urban landscape.? Arriving at 18 in Boston to study at the Massassuchetts College of Arts, he was deeply impressed by the city and its incredible resources. But also revolted by the waste inherent in this civilization. ?While Kenyans were starving, students were almost overfed on the campus and left huge portions of food for the trashcan.?

Adjmal for his part focuses more on the freedom he enjoys abroad. ?People are not influenced by racial prejudice. In contrast, when one comes back to Mauritius, one can feel a lack of sincerity within some people.? This is said not without regret. ?When I come back, the beauty of the island grips me. It is a pity people don?t do much with the country?s diversity.? Who said that Mauritians behave as Mauritians only when they are abroad?

Jake NICHOLSON