Mementos

Mementos is an on going series that delve into my personal journey of exploring tribal and lineage ancestry through African Spirituality. The idea of reconnection is a central theme in this series, where my goal was to delve into my ancestral ties and connections beyond DNA. I intentionally used family photographs of great uncles, aunts, and grandparents as inspiration.

 

These photographs were then reimagined with totems and symbolisms deeply rooted in West African Spirituality. Each portrait utilizes the circle, which embodies the belief of the Sun Child, connecting to the Igbo tribe,  inner power, knowledge, and wisdom. While all portraits utilize the circle, others use the bird, which embodies the ancestral totem of the black dove, first used in West Africa.

 

This series is a personal journey of myself, a black woman, who believes that our ancestors played an essential role in identifying ourselves as individuals and people. It is crucial to learn and understand who we are and from whom we come, as this knowledge was taken away from black people through slavery. This series is my belief that my story did not start with slavery but went beyond that, and I invite you to share in this journey.