Part of a series of photographs exploring the role of familiar objects in shaping communities, the plastic straw mat is a symbol of unity and daily life for people across west Africa

This image is part of a series called Backyard Kids, which explores the role of simple, everyday objects in shaping communities and relationships across west Africa. The plastic straw mat is one such item that holds great cultural significance, symbolising unity and daily life for people of different religions and tribes.

My earliest memory of a mat like this is tied to my grandmother, who would ask me to bring it out to the backyard of my childhood home in Liberia. She would lie on it in the shade, and those quiet moments became the foundation for this series. The name Backyard Kids reflects those memories and the sense of home and community the mat represents.

Born in Ivory Coast and based in Accra, Ghana, Cianeh Kpukuyou is a self-taught Liberian photographer whose work explores identity, community and cultural heritage. Follow her on Instagram