It is with great joy that I share with others this photograph of the Kente cloth my father, A.E. Asare, wove for the United Nations. The name of this piece is “Tikoronkoagyina,” which roughly translates into English as, “One head does not go into council. Two heads are better than one.” I barely even knew … More 3 Generations of Ashanti: A father-son-grandson Kente weaving legacy
On Saturday morning, April 6, we had another wonderful workshop – this time at Minneville Elementary School in Prince William County Public Schools in Woodbridge, Virginia. I love working with kids and youth of all ages from elementary school to high school and college. As you can see in the video, young children can … More Kente cloth workshop at Minneville Elementary School
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
This video is from a special workshop that Kwasi Asare presented for the Arts Facet of Old Dominion Virginia Chapter, the Links, at a Washington, D.C. Boys & Girls Club. The workshop was part of a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program developed by the Links organization. This kind of workshop is particularly … More Kente Workshop at a Washington, D.C. Boys & Girls Club
The beautiful energy of spring is right around the corner and we would like to organize more Kente cloth workshops to introduce this time-honored African tradition to as many people as possible! We’ve finalized the details and scheduled an workshop for May 5, 2019, in Rahway, New Jersey and we would like to create similar … More Spring 2019: Creating new Kente Cloth workshop events
With the explosion of interest in African aesthetics, Kente cloth weaving and African fashion design (in large part influenced by the fabulous success of the film “Black Panther”), Kwasi Asare is very interested in engaging with audiences in the Washington, D.C. area and across the country through presentations on Kente weaving and special hands-on workshops … More Networking and a growing national interest in Kente cloth art and culture workshops
In 2018, the Marvel film “Black Panther” became a worldwide cultural phenomenon and had a stunning impact on global audiences as well as shattering myths and expectations of what a predominantly black film and cast could achieve in terms of critical acclaim and box office commercial success. “Black Panther” became the 3rd highest grossing film … More ‘Wearing Wakanda’: “Black Panther,” Kente cloth weaving and African fabrics
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
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 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”
