Category: Art

Afrofuturistic Aesthetics: Black Panther and the synthesis of African art and design

April 3, 2019

It’s hard to underestimate the influence of Black Panther in the film’s ability to create a new Pan-African fashion/design aesthetic. Kente cloth, from the Ashanti region of Ghana – the most recognized and revered African woven fabric – also played a small role as one of the artistic elements among many African features, with T’challa … More Afrofuturistic Aesthetics: Black Panther and the synthesis of African art and design

Thoughts of a Kente weaver on the unity of African art, culture, design and spirituality

April 20, 2016

Africa is the source and origin of human life and much of humanity’s history, culture and evolution. Many of the foundations of science, medicine, astronomy, technology and mythology are directly traceable to Ancient Egypt (Kemet), later disseminated to Western civilization through Greece and Rome. Despite the oppression and underdevelopment of colonialism as well as limited access to … More Thoughts of a Kente weaver on the unity of African art, culture, design and spirituality

The most fly kicks ever – with an African flavor!!!

April 20, 2016

Nike NIKE HIRES NIGERIAN ARTIST LAOLU SENBANJO TO CREATE AIR MAX INSPIRED ART IN NEW YORK Niyi Aderibigbe Mar. 19 2016, 10:00 am Reprinted from The Nerve Africa For Nigerian visual artist and musician Laolu Senbanjo, all he wanted as a kid was happiness and growing up to become someone relevant to the society. While … More The most fly kicks ever – with an African flavor!!!

Laolu Senbanjo’s high energy collaboration with Queen Beyonce in “Lemonade”

April 20, 2016

Laolu Senbanjo is capturing center stage these days, including a high profile collaboration of his unmistakable body painting style with Beyonce, on her upcoming HBO premier of Lemonade. Senbanjo describes his body painting is part of the sacred art of the Ori; it binds both himself as an artist and the subjects of canvas. “In my language, Yoruba … More Laolu Senbanjo’s high energy collaboration with Queen Beyonce in “Lemonade”

The Weaver

April 6, 2016

Artist Joshua Mays describes this beautiful painting as “Advance possibility through advanced perspective.” I was immediately drawn to the painting, of course, because of its title.  It has a feeling and an energy that expresses something of what I experience as a Kente weaver, which ties into the idea of the African Creation myth of … More The Weaver

Kente: Not just any cloth

March 22, 2016

http://www.ultimatehistoryproject.com/kente-cloth-and-the-history-of-the-ashanti-people.html   By JESSICA ACHBERGER Kente cloth is deeply intertwined with the history of the Ashanti nation.  The Ashanti Empire or Confederacy, which was located in what is today Ghana, first emerged in West Africa during the seventeenth century.  The Ashanti are members of the Akan people who speak the Akan or Ashanti dialect.  The word … More Kente: Not just any cloth