About Us

Back in 2002, I remember the first time that I visited Jamaica as an adult and it flawed me. My mother (who was born in Jamaica), first took me to Jamaica when I was 5 years old, so I had never experienced a predominantly Black-populated country as an adult. Everything impacted me – from arriving at the airport to driving to Mandeville to visiting Little Ochi – everywhere I turned, I was greeted by consistent reflections of who I was in this beautifully, wonderfully-made Black skin. The experience has never left me. Many times, I long for those reflections to be my day-to-day reality.

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When my son was 9 years old, we had a conversation about me taking him to one of his countries of heritage. Due to his mixed heritage, I told him that we will visit, Jamaica, Guyana and Nigeria. I told him my story of experiencing Jamaica as an adult and I told him that when we go to his places of heritage that he would be able to see reflections of himself and reflections of whatever great things he wanted to be. I told him that in these countries there were countless examples of Black Entrepreneurs, Black Surgeons, Black Athletes, Black Academics, Black Lawyers, Black Doctors, Black Teachers, Black Models, Black Historians, Black Politicians, Black Inventors, Black Bank Owners, Black Families - Black Everything! Despite living in one of the most diverse cities in the World (i.e. London), my son said that seeing reflections of him everywhere was like a dream.

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Being able to see reflections of himself and seeing reflections of people who look like him will always present itself as a challenge because the reality is while living in the country he was born in, he will never see the dream of ‘Black Everything.’ My son is not the only child and/or young person who doesn't get to see loving, positive, intimate reflections of us and how we can be.

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To ensure that my son sees reflections of himself daily, I decided to solve this problem in my own way.

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This Afro Life® is my intentional attempt to meet the need of seeing Black Representation through portrait art that reflects us through different Art Eras and Mixed Media, underpinned by the display of Love, Connection and Intimacy. We can saturate ourselves, our children and young people with beautiful digital Afro art that reflects them and us. Throughout the Ages and Eras, we have always been here but not always represented.

 

We can hang the art of Love, Connection and Intimacy on the walls of our homes, in our business spaces, in our community centres, in our churches, in our schools, in our work spaces – everywhere! Displaying us in God's original design is equally as important because nobody has this super-duper, gorgeous Afro hair like us. Afro hair celebration is essential.

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While I make plans to take my son to be immersed in countries where he can see more positive reflections of himself, for now, I can turn his dream into reality through This Afro Life®.

 

From wall art to stationery and more, seeing reflections of yourself can be your reality through This Afro Life®. At last – Art That Reflects Us. Explore. Enjoy. Share.

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With Much Love,

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Dee Chikwendu

Founder of This Afro Life - 'Art That Reflects Us'®