Visiting artist Njola at her Prater studio
Cécile Mendy, Maeva Pimo and Renée Riedler – the authors of this blog – had the opportunity to meet the Uganda-based artist Njola (Nabukenya Allen) during her residency at the Weltmuseum Wien in Vienna.
Together with Magatte Ndiaye, Rector of the University Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis, Senegal, and his son, Bapi Ndiaye, we visited Njola's studio, located in one of the few remaining buildings from the 1873 Vienna World Exposition in the Prater—a rare architectural reminder of the city's historic world's fair. The visit offered an inspiring insight into her artistic practice and a unique opportunity to experience her latest work while it was still in progress.
When we arrived, a large-scale assemblage covered almost the entire studio floor. Njola explained that the work commemorates the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in 2024, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 35 people. Kiteezi, the main solid waste disposal site for Uganda's capital, Kampala, is also where Njola sources much of the discarded material she transforms into art.
From left to right: Cécile Mendy, Maeva Pimo, Bapi Ndiaye and Magatte Ndiaye with Njola at her studio.
The artist explained that the central figure of this work is a boda boda motorcycle waste transporter. She considers these workers to be heroes, as they transport heavy drums containing hazardous waste under extremely challenging and often dangerous conditions.
Njola spoke about the evolving politics of waste in Uganda and how they continue to shape both her artistic practice and the availability of the materials she works with. As waste management policies change, she reflects on what these developments will mean for the future of her work. She intentionally selects discarded materials that remain accessible despite recent legislation, including used tyres, worn flip-flops, and repurposed fabric from bags. Through the careful assemblage of these reclaimed materials, she creates striking, tactile compositions. Her innovative use of tyres and flip-flops has become a defining characteristic of her artistic practice.
We highly encourage everyone to visit Njola Impressions at the Theseustempel in Vienna, where her remarkable work is on view until October 2026.
