My experience as a Black + Femme embodied artist has often been an exercise of intense labor and slow compensation, stymied by institutional obstacles intended to fatigue. Many times, any sense of relief has come from my community. In light of this lived experience, SOU-SOU (SOUDIO) exists as a model to encourage mutual aid, and act as an accountability partner for personal financial investment, while offering a brief respite from capitalism-induced stress.
This project has been partly inspired by a collection of articles listed below:
“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Those Sou-Sou Savings Clubs African and Caribbean Women Love” by Lihle Z. Mtshali
"I Can’t Afford My Friends Anymore" by Daisy Schofield
"A Cundina Is the Mexican Version of Mutual Aid — Here’s How to Start One Yourself" by Natalie Arroyo Camacho
"What Mutual Aid Can Do During a Pandemic" by Jia Tolentino
