🗣️ calling all hair enthusiasts, cultural historians and folks alike..save the date june 13 - 14 for a two day experience hosted by @bantuhairco and @okrrrika … tickets drop soon!
#braids #bantu
A scan of The Album “Akalaka” by Victor Chukwu. Recorded in 1977 at Tabansi Studios in Onitsha, Anambra.
I grew up listening to Highlife in all its forms; Ghanaian, Yoruba, and Igbo alike. But as an Igbo person, artists like Victor Chukwu, Osadebe, and the Oriental Brothers always sat a little differently with me. Not from a tribalistic standpoint, but because of how Igbo Highlife came to be.
Traditional Highlife music heavily relies on brass instruments like trumpets and saxophones which was present in Igbo highlife post-war. But during the Biafran war, many trained brass players had either died in battle or were actively fighting in the war themselves. As a result, civilians quickly realized it was possible to play highlife music with a basic rock-band combo consisting of the drums, a guitar and any extra instruments one could find access to. It was through their ingenuity that allowed folks to still find ways to experience joy during such a tragedy stricken time.
That post-war era is where artists like Victor Chukwu really began to flourish. Akalaka is one of my favorite records by him, partly because my dad used to play Victor Chukwu constantly on burned CDs growing up since the records themselves were so difficult to find. Thankfully, BBE recently reissued a project pairing Akalaka with The Power, making the album easier to access again. “Akalaka” translates to “destiny” or “fate” in Igbo, and I think it’s so poetic how despite all that one goes through joy is always etched into ones fate..🌟
🎧 you can stream the album through the link in bio!
As we reflect on the year so far, it feels right to look back at Joko, the dinner experience we curated with @tobi.oladejo and @okrrrika at the start of the year.
Ahead of the dinner, Tobi shared what “Joko” has come to mean to him and how it continues to shape his creative process, a sentiment that carried through the evening and one we are consciously returning to in our own practice.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring the evening together. Tobi for leading/conceptualizing the experience and sharing his artwork throughout the space; Okrika and OG for the books, artifacts, and objects placed throughout the dinner; and @bonhommegroup , @expatchicago (@mikechoi , @shannahprimiano , and @erwinmallet ) for their support throughout the night.
Video Direction - @ala.ase@4_yin
Videographer - @30mmwill
Editor - @itsbabyayo@peripheralprojects
Okrika is looking for a paid part-time intern to support the day-to-day operations of the archive and our growing cultural programming.🌟
This role is ideal for someone early in their career who’s interested in events, curation, archives, publishing, art direction, or community-based cultural work.
Responsibilities may include: — administrative support — event assistance + production support — archival organization — research + curation tasks — occasional errands/pickups — general operational support
💌 To apply, send an email to [email protected] with an intro about yourself, your interests, and why this resonates with you as well as your resume.
Thank you 🫶🏾
highlights from my visit to the detroit institute of arts, definitely enjoyed the range of items in their african collection versus what the art institute of chicago has..
Here’s what I pulled from the archives today: Images from The Faces of Our Past: Images of Black Women from Colonial America to the Present.
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Available in the library to view and scan 📖
snippets from yesterday’s screening of blknws: terms and conditions..this was such a blast sharing one of my favorite films with you all and also getting to reflect on it together 🌟
see you next month 🫶🏾
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#thingstodochicago #blacklibrary #africanarchives #archivist #BookTok
this month at the parlour, we’re screening blknews: terms + conditions by khalil joseph. 🎞️
a layered, immersive film pulling together fragments of black memory across time.
this is one of my favorite films ever and i’m really excited to share it with folks who haven’t had a chance to see it yet, or just want to sit with it again. after, we’ll get into a conversation on diaspora + collective memory.
refreshments on deck and space is limited, so grab your ticket via the link in bio ✨
swipe for a snippet of the trailer 🎦
moments from this month’s reading room 📚
spent the afternoon tucked in the space, flipping through pages, and just vibing out.
appreciate everyone who came through and much love to our friends @experienceruby and @mikis.cookies for the refreshments 🤎
see you at next month’s bend down select 🌟
📸: @tw00bytw00 🌟
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This month in The Parlour: Mami Wata by CJ Obasi. 🌀🌊
Set in the fictional village of Iyi, the film follows a matriarchal society whose traditions are challenged when an outsider arrives.
After the film, we’ll open a conversation around folktales and myths. Do we believe them, or are they stories passed down through time and imagination?
Refreshments provided. Space is limited, so get your tickets soon (link in bio 🎟️)
Swipe through to catch the trailer. 🎞️
