Get ready for the return of the next edition of the Free Community Street Party! Ako Adjei- LiT Up!

Date: Friday 27th September
Location: Koi Street, Osu, Accra
Time: 6pm -12am

In this episode I speak with Maku a renowned visual artist whose work pushes the boundaries of traditional art, creating pieces that are as jarring as they are captivating. As a multidisciplinary artist, she's not only a painter but also a sculptor, creating organic, semi-abstract forms that engage the senses and invite viewers into a deeply personal space.

Maku shares her personal challenges, particularly her experience of moving to a new country and feeling a heightened sense of vulnerability and how that led to her powerful journey of self-discovery and resilience. Maku also speaks about her path to overcoming obstacles and finding her voice as an artist. She emphasizes the importance of pushing through adversity, embracing failure, and seizing opportunities to grow.

We also speak about her professional aspirations which include continuing to create sculptures and inspiring the next generation of artists in Ghana.

You can connect with Maku at https://www.instagram.com/makuazu/?hl=en

Why do you listen to this podcast https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqYe7Kp9yTItZY5--I0NP05GAgqDyo-hCyGUrNO13Xj8yp4g/viewform

In this episode I speak with Malian-American artist Penda Diakité who grew up between Mali, West Africa and Portland Oregon. Her mixed media artwork, comprises of a variety of painting techniques, paper collage, and hand engraving. She uses the vibrant colors and patterns of her Malian heritage with influences of her American upbringing to create pieces that reflect her experiences as a bicultural woman, exploring black feminine identity, concepts and traditions from the Malian culture, and how it all co-exists in our present day.

Penda shares her journey of finding her artistic voice, the importance of understanding the business side of art, including contracts, and the need to sometimes handle aspects of your career independently. She also delves into how traditional art forms and cultural history can enrich and give profound meaning to contemporary artwork.

Penda also speaks about preserving and celebrating the stories and traditions that often go unnoticed. She believes in the power of art to connect people with their heritage and to preserve the language of forgotten traditions.

You can connect with Penda at https://www.instagram.com/thebeautifulartist/

Why do you listen to this podcast https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqYe7Kp9yTItZY5--I0NP05GAgqDyo-hCyGUrNO13Xj8yp4g/viewform