Fashioning the lived experiences of Kadama.

Abstract

This research aims to explore the meanings the lived experiences of Ugandan women who migrate to the Middle East for employment as domestic workers (Kadama) and create wearable art from them. It isrecognized that migration has become a significant phenomenon in Uganda, particularly among women seeking better economic opportunities in the Middle East. Called the Kadama, these womenface many challenges reproduced by the patriarchies in their country of origin (Uganda) and the states to which they migrate in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, etc). In what ways do such challenges influence their lived experiences including their migration decisions, encounters, and personal lives? Where such women‟s experiences have been narrated into rich accessible registers which have shaped the creative work of musicians who have deployed costumes to make meaning, in what ways (if any) can they shape the production of wearable art that is based on women‟s experiences as voices, research and knowledge production? To address this overarching question, I engaged in two objectives: In Objective 1 traced the origins and lived experiences of the Kadama as an emerging phenomenon. As such, I responded to the following Research Question 1 namely: In what ways would the historical record, based on the printed and electronic archive of the origins and lived experiences of the Kadama, build an understanding of the context in which the Kadama emerges as a woman‟s voice? In Objective 2 I explored the meaning[s] of Kadama as a source of inspiration to create wearable art that speaks to the lived experiences of the Kadama. I answered the following Research Question 2 namely: where the Kadama is a phenomenon representing a woman‟s affirmative voice, in which ways would its meaning[s] be explored as a source of inspiration for the creation of wearable art that speaks to women‟s voices? I employed a qualitative approach, utilising in-depth interviews and participant observation to gather data from Ugandan women who have migrated to countries who had served as Kadama inSaudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Through thematic analysis, I converged the complex and multidimensional lived experiences of women who worked in these countries. The research highlights the relationship between economic opportunities and gender dynamics which were used as a metaphor to create wearable art using rainbow ropes as a symbol for strength, resilience, and endurance of Kadama who stand a lot of hardships to earn a living. Investigating the various aspects of their lived experiences, including the decision-making process leading to migration, pre-departure preparations, recruitment processes, working conditions, social interactions, and overall well-being, this study also explores the role of gender dynamics and power relations and impact on the lives of these migrant women represented in fashion under wearable art. The research contributes to the existing literature on labour externalisation and women's empowerment in Uganda by highlighting the positive aspects and challenges faced by Kadama, with implications for policy development and support systems for migrant workers.