The Ancestors Passage

In 2018 I debuted my third short film, “The Woe Chronicles” at my first art show with my friend and collaborator in Chicago. We booked the location through Peerspace. It was a very proud moment for me because I gave myself permission to create my own lane and show my work in a way that was unique to what I wanted to accomplish. Later that year I went to Africa for the first time, Ghana, and in 2019 I moved to Johannesburg, South Africa for three months. My time in Africa left a permanent imprint on my creativity and opened my eyes to a world outside of black trauma in the U.S. I had the opportunity to exist in spaces where joy lived, individuality was appreciated, friendships were developed, and creativity was amplified. I returned to the States right before the first lockdown and that was when my mission became clear: I want to build bridges between African Americans and Africans across the diaspora and continent through storytelling. I created projects in both countries, an "Instagram Script Series: Nights," and two short films, “Jozi To The World,” and “Jiki Jiki: A Cultural Shift.” Besides creating work, I also created bonds. Through those relationships, I realized the need for cross-continental content that joins Black Americans and Africans together. Content that shows the true Africa of modern-day men and women and not ones that require help from silly infomercials. Last year was a trauma-filled period for African Americans as the world watched so many used as target practice by police. Simultaneously, Nigeria, South Africa, and most recently Ghana and Senegal have experienced civil unrest due to police brutality, the invasion of the LGBTQIA+ rights, rape, and violence against women. Seeing all of this confirmed that we are more alike than we are unalike. We need to heal, but for that to happen, we must unify first. In Africa, I experienced something I had not felt in a long time: joy. Frequently I was told “welcome home sister,” I felt my ancestors dance inside of me every time this was echoed to me. My hope is that every African American can experience that feeling. By having this art exhibition, I can show black people an Africa that offsets the negative imagery shown by Western society. Inspiring them to go explore the continent for themselves, connect with their roots, and remind them of who they really are. Most importantly, I can build a bridge our ancestors would be proud of and shine a light on the beauty of our ancestral home from the people that live there.