︎

Kenteverse


The Kenteverse is a multifaceted Art, Design & Music project exploring Kente’s innate power to create. I’m primarily using sounds sampled from the loom during the weaving process to generate new Kente designs and experiences.

When I started this project, I thought I was merely observing and dissecting the anatomy of Kente. I wasn’t aware of the fact that I was peering into a whole universe, The Kenteverse. Sound & Rhythm drove me here, and they’ve been my main points of contact in understanding the numerous locations within this universe. Language, History & Fashion are just some of the areas I’ve gained access to during my time here.

+ Videos
+ Beats
+ SONX



+ Resources
+ Reez

Back In Ghana


I had to trip back to Ghana to work on some more experiments and fulfill some aspects of the Kenteverse. I was keen on finishing up some experiments I had started and also working on some new ones.

I took the beat cloth designs I experimented with and worked on them with Mandela and Aminu –– the two main weavers I work with on this project. I was eager to see if this experiment made was possible at all and if it even made sense.

Another experiment I wanted to do was to use the loom as an instrument. I wanted to create a situation where the weaver used the loom to back an artist, Pure Akan, while he spontaneously freestyled. Upon speaking with both weavers about this experiment, I got two very different answers. Mandela told me it would be a complex experiment. However, he was willing to try it out. On the other hand, Aminu felt like it’d be a pretty easy experiment, So we pinned the date and scheduled the time and place for the experiment.

The motif library was another sub-project I wanted to see come to life. I wanted to work with the weavers in building this library that once kind of existed. So, I kickstarted this project with both weavers, and we are currently developing and creating new motifs.
 
_
July 12 2021