Young woman, Chogoria, Kenya, 1922

“Bride price – a safeguard against capricious divorce, is paid. Even an old grandfather like this old man may buy a young girl. This however changed as the young folk gained in education & so in power. But the women always, by & large, seemed happier than the men. Is this because their lives were occupied with service?” Exterior view showing a young woman sitting outside a traditional dwelling and used to illustrate Dr Irvine’s views on customary Mwimbi marriage arrangements. ❧ Image from the collection of Dr Archibald Clive Irvine (1893-1974) showing the early years of the Chogoria mission, established near Mt Kenya in 1922 and run by Dr Irvine, ministering to the Chuka and Mwimbi peoples.