Kwame Brathwaite, Photographer and Advocate of Black Culture Dies At 85
an anchor for new forms of representation
Kwame Brathwaite, photographer and activist whose images redefined Black beauty in the 1960s and inspired generations of artists, died on April 1, aged 85. His son, Kwame Brathwaite, Jr., shared the news of his father’s death on social media, saying, “I am deeply saddened to share that my Baba, the patriarch of our family, our rock and my hero has transitioned.”
Brathwaite’s work has served as an anchor for new forms of representation, especially for Black women. In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, Kwame Brathwaite’s photography popularised the political slogan “Black Is Beautiful.” Recently, his work gained mainstream attention with museum retrospectives and monographs and, over the years, has appeared in publications and on album covers.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrant parents, Brathwaite attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design). In 1956, he and his older brother Elombe Brath, inspired by the writings of activist and black nationalist Marcus Garvey, co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) and Grandassa Models in 1962. AJASS was a collective of artists, playwrights, designers, and dancers, and Grandassa Models was a modelling agency for black women, founded to challenge white beauty standards.
Throughout the 1960s, Brathwaite, in his tiny darkroom in Harlem, perfected a processing technique that enriched the look of black skin in a photograph. The black-and-white images of his subjects highlighted Blackness in its glory. In 1962, AJASS organised the first of its “Naturally” fashion shows, which saw Black models, known as Grandassa Models, walk the runway with their natural hair. In 1965, Brathwaite met a Grandassa Model named Sikolo and in 1966, they wedded. By the 70s, Brathwaite had photographed a wide range of Black musicians including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Bob Marley and John Coltrane.
During the ’70s, Brathwaite travelled to Africa, visiting countries such as Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, and more. He documented Jackson Five’s tour in Ghana and covered the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In 2019, Rihanna spoke to Vogue about the influence of Brathwaite’s work on her Fenty cosmetics label, saying, “When I was coming up with the concept for this release, we were just digging and digging and we came up with these images—they made me feel they were relevant to what we are doing right now.”
Kwame Brathwaite’s work has been featured in museums and galleries around the world, with the most recent being a Philip Martin Gallery exhibition in Los Angeles, US, titled “Pocket Universe,” which celebrated Brathwaite as well as other artists including Ericka Beckman, Brian Bress and Carl Cheng, among others. An exhibition of his works titled “Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For” is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it will remain until July 24.
Fanti Carnival Returns to Lagos This Easter with a Vibrant Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
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Vlisco’s “The Garden Of Sisterhood” Campaign Comes To Life in New “MAYANGA” Video
A celebration of creativity and cultural
Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanying music video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
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