Rootencial is delighted to introduce Emmanuel Awanga, a painter and an artist in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the largest French-speaking city in the world. Exhibiting his work in a vibrant backstreet art market just off Kinshasa’s central Boulevard du 30 Juin, Emmanuel’s colorful creative streak is immediately apparent. Dressed in […]
Art Runs Through My Veins: Emmanuel Awanga Read More »
On a drizzly January afternoon, Fungai Marima welcomes Rootencial to her art studio in London’s majestic Old Manor Park Library. One of the UK’s first free public libraries when it opened in 1905, it remained a hub of intellectual exploration for east Londoners for more than a century until it closed in 2011. Fortunately, the
Organic Love for Art: Fungai Marima Read More »
When Muna Lobé started developing her creative consulting firm, she drew upon her deep passion for the arts and her roots in Ghana, Cameroon and the West Indies. Her identity is at the heart of AYA Consulting, which works directly with artists and art institutions to showcase the work of African, Caribbean and Afro-descendant creatives. “Travel
Heritage, artistry and championing culture: Muna Lobé Read More »
Christiane Sungu and Lucrece Wasolua-Kibeti met while competing in a beauty pagent, running to be the face of Congolese beauty in the UK and to be representatives of their roots in the diaspora. They went on to create Krowned, a social initiative which aims to empower and embolden young women through haircare and hairstyles –
The Politics of Hair, Identity and Confidence Read More »
“A better choice is different for everyone,” Isa-Welly, a London-based Pilates and wellness coach explains. “We all know what’s good or bad for us. I can’t define what’s good for you, because that’s not my job, I’m not you. My job is to empower people to make the best choices for themselves, whatever they are”.
Wellbeing & Empowerment: Isa-Welly Locoh-Donou Read More »
“I was always Sudanese; it’s the only passport I ever had,” says Omnia Shawkat, Founder of Andariya. “But the Sudanese-ness only really came to me when I was visiting Sudan as an adult.” Omnia is the Founder of Andariya, a digital cultural platform amplifying stories from Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda. Andariya includes stories on
Reclaiming African Narratives: Omnia Shawkat Read More »
Montserrat Anguiano is an artist tailor-made for the Afro-descendant generations in Spain. She gives visibility to black women through her painting, achieving the perfect balance between art and identity, and advances the fight for diversity through the beauty of her works. With the launch of her online store, it is now possible to acquire her
Aesthetic Activism: Desirée Bela-Lobedde Boleche Read More »
Rootencial is delighted to introduce Angela Nzambi, a writer native of Lía, a town in the district of Bata – Equatorial Guinea, who also works with refugees, and whose writings are inspired by personal and professional stories. Who is Angela Nzambi? I don’t know how to answer to the question of ‘who I am’. To
Writings Inspired By Stories: Angela Nzambi Read More »
Noëlla Coursaris Musunka has walked catwalks in New York, runways in London and featured in top international fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Vanity Fair. But it is the supermodel’s non-profit project Malaika, empowering girls and women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which brings her enormous pride. At Malaika we focus on one
From catwalk to classroom: Noëlla Coursaris Musunka Read More »
Rootencial is delighted to introduce Justin Kasereka, an emerging Congolese artist and illustrator from the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and creator of our Africa Roots T-shirt illustration. A student of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, Justin’s academic training only adds to his remarkable artistic talent. Today, through his
Finding A Voice Through Art: Justin Kasereka Read More »
