Bob Marley – Smile Jamaica, Kwame Nkrumah – Dawn of The New Africa, Martin Lutther King Jnr – Architect of The Dream, Pele – The Blue Print of Possibility. Newspapers, Strawboard, Glue, Acrylic Paint, 60cm x 80cm
History is not merely a memory; it is a foundation. In an age defined by digital noise and constant crisis, my work transforms fleeting moments into lasting icons. By silhouetting revolutionary African and Black American figures including Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, Tupac Sharkur, Bob Marley, Pele, and Ibrahim Traore against the chaotic texture of contemporary newsprint, I explore how these powerful voices endure against the pressures of 2026.
My process involves layering newspaper cutouts onto a black support to reveal the silhouettes of Black social and civil rights activists. The "messy" newsprint represents the fragmentation of our modern world, while the text within the silhouettes is carefully curated to include the specific values, philosophies, and historical achievements of the figures depicted.
We live in a time of overlapping crises, ecological collapse, political fragmentation, and widening social inequalities that mirror the very challenges these subjects once stood against. By placing these giants over current events, I demonstrate that their messages are not relics, but active reminders to effect change in our present reality. These portraits act as anchors, showing that the same resilience and conviction used to fight social inequalities, political fragmentation and bad systems then are exactly what we need to remain purposeful now.
Kyei-Dankwah Emmanuel is a versatile artist from Ghana who lives in Winneba. His work focuses on the "moods" of the modern world, especially how people feel about jobs, politics, and unfairness in society.
Currently a student at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), he is the President of the Art Society-UEW and the acting President of the School of Creative Arts Students Union. His art tells stories about people moving to new places (migration) and finding out who they are. He believes that art can be a powerful way to stand up against problems and help people heal.