A Cry For Africa

"This is Our homeland, this is our civilization..." - Muhammad Ali (Kinshasa, Zaire, 1964) 

 

"I've never felt so free in my life. Free from America where I'm not really free."  - Muhammad Ali (Kinshasa, 1964) 

 

"A Cry For Africa" represents millions of the African diaspora whose ancestors were enslaved and dispersed throughout the world. How that destroyed communities, disrupted cultures, economies, and erased the history and identity of the people. This piece represents their souls cry for home and their descendants longing for connection, of understanding the past prior to enslavement, and their ancestory. 

 

The gold and bronze is symbolic of the richness of its land, its natural resources. Things like crops, metals and spices that made the continent the center of trade for the world. The woven areas have a double meaning, first the richness and strength of the people and their innovation even while being enslaved. While other races and ethnic groups, are able to trace back their past. Many of the African diaspora do not have that ability. Many that were enslaved attempted to record or document as much of their family history in woven quilts. Others used quilting to communicate directions for the underground railroad. Which was called "freedom quilts" slaves would hang them in their windows as guideposts. to help slaves find safe houses and  routes north.