(A) Description
afrOURban is a collective interested in documenting and celebrating a more accurate narrative about the spaces occupied by Black people, both in the diaspora and on the African continent. The collective is comprised of Black artists, architects, practitioners & citizens from over 20 countries ranging from an Angolan Venice biennale architect to a matatu driver in Kenya.
Kholisile founded afrOURban in 2017, bringing together 10 African creatives. The aim of the collective is to document more nuanced narratives about cities on the continent. The creatives in the collective range in experience from a matatu public transport conductor in Nairobi to an Angolan Venice Biennale Architect. Exhibited works have ranged from a documentary about Kataka soccer in Kampala to vernacular rammed earth practices in Senegal.
afrOURban exhibits, screenings, tours and talks have served as a conduit for discussion about the diversity of the Black experience in cities. The collective has hosted exhibits and screenings in:
Manahatta-New York City, Tiohtià:ke-Montreal, Tkaronto-Toronto, Djubuguli-Sydney, & Narrm-Melbourne since 2017.
afrOURban provides a space for Black voices to tell Black stories.
Collective exhibited: Jessica Sarkodie - Accra Ghana, Komi Olaf - Lagos & Kaduna Nigeria,
Ly Lagazelle - Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire,
Masimba & Danayi Madondo - Harare Zimbabwe, Yaounde Cameroon, Munya Chidzonga - Harare, Zimbabwe, Nora Dei-Anang - Nairobi, Kenya & Accra Ghana, Nuits Balnéaires - Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire,
Randi Karangizi - Kampala, Uganda,
René Tavares - Sao Tome, Mamy Tall - Dakar, Senegal, Sheriff001 - Nairobi, Kenya,
Kitonera Nasasira - Kampala, Atong Atem - South Sudan and Narrm Melbourne, Paula Nascimento - Luanda, Angola, Uganda, Gwera Kiwana - Tech lead,
Phillip Johnson - Creative and Branding Lead,
Yonnie Laubhouet - Curator,
Kholisile Dhliwayo - Curator.
(B) Previous exhibits
(B) Previous exhibit fliers top left to bottom right:
1 - Image: Zebra Crossing in the City by Nora Dei-Anang, flier by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
2 - Photograph of exhibit by Kholisile Dhliwayo
3 - Image: Pyramide by Ly Lagazelle video editing by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
4 - Image: Architecture de la terre by Mamy Tall, flier by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
5 - Photograph of exhibit by Kholisile Dhliwayo
6 - Architecture de la terre by Mamy Tall, video editing by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
7 - Early morning deliveries by Randi Karangizi, flier by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
8 - Photograph of exhibit by Kholisile Dhliwayo
9 - Kataka by Kitonera Nasasira, video editing by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
10 - Afriek Afriek by Nuits Balnéaires, flier by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
11 - Photograph of screening by Kholisile Dhliwayo
12 - Beyond Entropy by Paula Nascimento, video editing by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
13 - afrOURban logo designed by Kholisile Dhliwayo & Phillip Johnson
14 - Boda Boda Breaks by Randi Karangizi, flier by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo
15 - Image: Tiri Tatu - Danayi Madondo, video editing by Phillip Johnson & Kholisile Dhliwayo