Colours of Africa Trailer (2022)

Colours of Africa is a virtual exhibition presented by Design Indaba and Google Arts and Culture. Spanning 54 African countries and featuring 60 African artists, the exhibition is an exploration of life on the continent - Africa as told by Africans.
Africa is known for its bold, unapologetic use of colour. Stories are told in pigments, tones and hues; a kaleidoscope as diverse as the cultures and peoples of the continent. For the initiative Colours of Africa, we asked 60 African creatives to capture the unique spirit of their country in a colour which represents home to them. The projects they have created are personal and distinct stories of Africa, put into images, videos, texts and illustrations.
Each artist has also attempted to articulate what being African means to their identity and view of the world.
As part of the project launch, Design Indaba commissioned South African multi-disciplinary artist and activist Lebo Mashile to compose an original piece of poetry that celebrates Colours of Africa coming into its own …
Colours of Africa
By Lebo Mashile
Eyes flutter in slumbering darkness
The sky, a skin of midnight hues
Dawn shakes the dreamscape of white wonder
As the sun and a continent come into view
A curtain of light is pulled back
On the glow where sand caresses sea
Rich rust
Golden dust
Love red regalia
Awakened orange energy
Yellow sparks of illuminated millions
Contrast the lush sustenance of green
Digital diversity dipped in black
Bold as cobalt
Ochre as ancestry
Polyrhythmic purple passion
Spirit of violet swirling in citrus seasons
Elegant as obsidian
Resilient as everlasting moss
Retreat into reflective perception
On mango trees, Niamey earth
The ocean in my palm, agu
Nourished by contradictions
The gilded dream of colours
that never leave me alone
Joyeuse Jaune de la memoire [joyous yellow of memory]
Botala Ba mme [blue of my mother]
La flamme noire [the black flame]
Heart of bread and rivers
Songs and stories of my bone
Amazing blue brown shelter
Where my hues blend into you, is home.
To watch the virtual exhibition visit: goo.gle/colour...

[@traditionalafricanpoetryta7398]

Inspiring words of poetry ✨️ 👏

[@marcuszandhuis]

"Bold as kobalt, ochre as ancestry". Kudos to Lebo Mashile, Google and Design Indaba on this project. Can't wait to see more.

[@DakayC]

wow....just amazing

[@mouludyeslem5688]

Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

[@angelaem205]

This is a very beautiful art project and I am so grateful I found it. The poetry is breathtaking as well as the colours. I always get lost in a swirl of colours and I am glad I am not the only one. Colours seem to bring us together and unlock our better potential. Respect to all my fellow colour lovers out there! 🙏🙇‍♀👩🏾👨🏾👩🏻👨🏻👩👨🎨🔮

[@JA-Q28]

Beautiful ❤️