After loosing her husband when she was 47, Nha Maria raised their 13 children by herself. She struggled for over 30 years and managed to build her own house in the neighbourhood of Achada Grande Frente, in Praia, Cape Verde’s capital city. It’s a common situation in this tiny insular state in Western Africa, for women to be the main pillar of the household, often singlehandedly supporting their families. These are portraits of two of Nha Maria’s granddaughters, Ladisma and Erica who we met whilst out looking for walls.

Painting during the  Projeto Xalabas residency. Achada Grande Frente, Praia, Cape Verde, West Africa