Ms. Afrika Abney - Consultant Branding Blog

I have crossed over many bridges. I have seen many bridges. I have been under many bridges and at the end of each bridge, there is hope and light.                                            Cross Bridges. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney    

  "We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share." Maya Angelou                                 Creative Expressions of Joy. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

I grew up in America and in Ward 7 neighborhood. I grew up examining the colors, textures, and materials available to me searching for answers to the many questions floating within me. I grew up in a household without my siblings and father absence. Thus, I consider myself like an only child and alone in a world filled with racism, discrimination, prejudice, violence and corruption. I express my experiences that I have encountered through my visual artwork. Painting the world, society and community that I have witnessed as a black female in America using dull, vibrant, and dark colors.  You ask me time and time again, how was growing up in America for me? I say all the time, it was an experience filled with sorrow, trauma, grief, hope, and absence.  Growing Up in America.Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney     Quote found on the Internet "Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was a playwright and writer. She was the first African-American female author to hav...

 As racism still exists today, I continue to fight against racism. No one should be judged based on the color of their skin. Too many people judge one another because of their race. Many of my ancestors fought against racism. Racism is not a pleasant experience and many black people still experience racism in today's society? Why? Because refuse to recognize that there is only one human race and that is equality.                                                                       Quote found on the Internet                                                                    ...

  I met Mama Kadiatou Conte many years ago. I provide services for her company. November 4, 1999. Dance Performance. African American Heritage Celebration. Soul In Motion Players, Inc African Drummers featured Balafon Women's Ensemble. Bowie State University, Bowie MD https://www.facebook.com/balafondance/ "Kadiatou Conte Forte  (affectionately referred to as Mama Kadiatou) devotes her life and career to passing on her African dance mastery and creating authentic dance experiences. Whether experienced artists, young people, or members of the community of all ages, she encourages everyone to know and embrace their own style and challenge themselves. Her extensive career teaching and performing around the world has earned her respect and acknowledgment as a grand “Mama” of the African arts world. ​ Along with dance, Mama Kadiatou teaches the importance of mental and physical fortitude and the importance of loving and accepting ourselves and one another. Grounded in h...

 Blended families consist of warm colors, cool colors and neutral colors. "Warm colors are created using just two colors: red and yellow. These primary colors combine to make orange."  "Unlike warm colors, there is only one primary color, blue, in the cool colors. So to get other colors in the palette, you mix some red or yellow with blue to get green and purple. This makes green and purple warmer than blue, which is a pure cool color." "Neutral colors consist of brown, which is a combination of all three primary colors, and the two remaining colors: black and white. The more muddied or gray a color is, the more neutral it becomes."  When I think of utilizing all three colors on the color wheel, I think the composition, technique, and materials used to create my painting. For example, if I want to create a painting just using cool colors to represent blended families, I will use blue. Blue is the one color that I use to create more colors. In or...

    In 2020, Esther Productions, Inc hosted it's 1st Reconciliation Week. Please join Esther Productions, Inc for Reconciliation Week 2022. THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK was created around the belief that family is the institutional foundation for everything—the individual and society. If it is weak or unstable, then the individual, without interventions, also will not possess the necessary strength of character and purpose to achieve in life. A community without cohesive, strong and loving families will be marked by various socio-economic and debilitating challenges. The program is held each June and features an array of experts, practitioners and creative healers whose focus is to assist individuals, families and communities in becoming their best selves through a reconciliation system as developed by jonetta rose barras.  The National Reconciliation Week: For Self and Family                       ...

    Upon reading the book, Discover Me... Without You edited by Jonetta Rose Barras and published by Jonetta Rose Barras and Esther Productions, Inc, I found that the book very therapeutic for as an adult woman who grew up without her father. I believe that each of the authors wrote about the various symptoms that around this global issue very well and were very fortunate to be apart of such contribution to society. This is the first book that was recently published from the contest participants. Reviewed by Ms. Afrika Abney May 13, 2020   Discover Me..Without You Chapbook - Available on April 4, 2020 Discovering Me...Without You book title came from the Annual Personal Essay Contest that took place from September 2019 - November 1, 2019 and was designed for teen girls 14-17 and to aid in the healing of fatherless girls by using the personal essay to help them discover their personal strengths and resilience.  ​ ​Order at  https://www.estherproductio...

  Commissioned Photography for Baba Djimo Kouyate Smithsonian Folklife Festival, 1997, Washington, DC Photograph by Ms. Afrika Abney   "Djimo Kouyaté (August 16, 1946 - August 1, 2004). Djimo Kouyate was from the Malinké tribe, a sub-group of the Mandingo people. Born in Tambacounda, Senegal, he was from a distinguished family of griots who trace their ancestry back to the thirteenth century. A master kora player and a fine singer and dancer, Djimo also played a variety of other instruments including balafon (wooden xylophone), drums, and other string instruments. He worked with the Senegalese National Ballet as a singer and dancer since 1960, and was a founding member of the National Instrumental Ensemble of Senegal."

  "Dunham Technique is a vibrant African American dance form that engages the body, mind and spirit! Created by dance pioneer Katherine Dunham, the technique is informed by the traditional dances of the African Diaspora, as well as by modern and ballet." I studied Dunham Technique from Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson.    " Katherine Dunham Legendary dancer, choreographer and anthropologist, Katherine Dunham was born on June 22,1909 in Chicago, to an African American father and a French Canadian mother. She sang in her local Methodist Church in Joliet; but for a financial crisis at her church, she might never have sung anything but gospel songs. At age eight, she amazed and scandalized the elders of her church by doing a performance of decidedly non-religious songs at a cabaret party, in order to raise money. She never thought about a career in dance. Instead, she consented to her family's wish that she become a teacher and followed her brother, Albert Dunh...

    “Forever In Your Eyes”  Sylvia Dianne Beverly  ISBN-13:9781546266716 Publisher: AuthorHouse Publication date:11/27/2018 Pages:132 ​Product dimensions:5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.31(d) “Forever In Your Eyes” is an inspirational, uplifting, motivational and delightful book. Each of the poems are insightful, healing and touching such as “Deep In My Heart,” “My Heart Speaks,” and “Bring Back The Holy Spirit.” After reading, “Forever In Your Eyes,” you will find yourself completely energized and refreshed. My favorite poem written by Sylvia Dianne Beverly and is published in “Forever In Your Eyes” is entitled: “It’s Up To Me.”  Reviewed by Afrika Abney July 2007 https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Your-Sylvia-Dianne-Beverly/dp/1546266712   Ms. Sylvia Dianne Beverly, “Ladi Di” is a native of Washington, D.C,  founder/director of  "Girls with Hearts," (youth poetry group),  poet, and author of Forever In Your Eyes (A potpourri o...

This is a collage that I created many years ago and gave away. It was one of the pieces that I featured on my old greeting cards. I created this piece while I was a student at Bell from 1991 - 1993. Values. Greeting card created and designed by Afrika Abney I strive to demonstrate my levels of integrity, empathy, and compassion within my community. I chose the following colors: blue, pink, yellow, black, and purple because it each of those colors have a relationship to one another and meaning. For example, I am a black, so black represents my roots, heritage, culture, and skin color. Without my ancestors and cultural beliefs, I would not be able to have values. Values are apart of who I am. Colors are embedded within me. "Blue symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth and heaven. It is the color of the sky. And it is the color of Compassion. Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness. Dark blue re...

  Beauty Lies in Colors that I see and human character. I do not define fashion and beauty based on style and outer appearance. Beauty lies in colors of the universe. Each color represents a different meaning whether spiritual, emotional, physical or mental. For example, brown represents my skin color.  Why judge me because I am a black middle aged woman? Is that all that you see? If so, then, you have not bothered to examine things like kindness, compassion, nurturing, and understanding. My style does not define who I am. My character does. Thus, when I wear the colors of my heritage, race and culture, I display strength, pride and elegance.                                Beauty Lies in Colors. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

For many years, I have celebrated Black History Month in many ways. Some of them include acknowledging black people that I know and reading Black History Month quotes. I have posted several blog posts where I mention something about various black people and some quotes. I do not celebrate Black History Month in February; I celebrate it everyday.                                                 Blackness. Digital art piece created on canvas. Afrika Abney “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” – Desmond Tutu “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” – Susan L. Taylor  "I get way down in the music ...

There are so many Black women dancers that I know. Some of them include Nana Malaya, Wakili McNeil and Kima Hawk. Nana Malaya Nana Malaya at Dance Africa 2009. Dance Place, Washington, DC.Photograph by Ms. Afrika Abney Nana Malaya has been performing since early childhood.  Her versatility and expertise in the arts has lead to many diverse opportunities.  Her first major choreographic work was, “The Hallelujah Chorus,” a liturgical dance (an innovation at the time) for the prestigious Carnegie Mellon Institute in Pittsburg when she was only 16 years old! Nana Malaya was also selected to be one of the youngest members of August Wilson’s first professional theatre company: The Black Horizon Theatre.  This friendship and collaboration continued, and she also served as an actress and choreographer for the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright.  Her company, The Nubian Theatre Dance & Music Company, has provided her the opportunity to portray many characters an...

Deep skin is a digital art piece created on canvas. It is about how Black people are constantly being racial profiled or judged based on the color of our skin. As a black woman, I refuse to be profiled based on the color of my skin because when you profile me, you profile my ancestors who built the pyramids, created traffic lights and buildings for you to reach your dreams and goals. Why waste your time making wild assumptions and drawing unnecessary conclusions because you see a black woman making a difference and impacting the lives of the future generation? Deep skin or should I say deep waters. Black people have made it through slavery, protests, demonstrations, poverty, and discrimination. Yet, you stand there waiting for a black person to do harm. Not all black people are Dr. Karenga and not all black people want to dragged through the mud because of your speculations.  If I was tan would I be looked at differently from a deep skinned black person. No, because black people no...

 There are many countless Black Women Poets that have made a contribution in today's society. Some of them include Dr. Maya Angelou, Eloise Greenfield and Joy Jones. " Dr. Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou   " Children’s author Ms. Eloise Greenfield was born in Parmele, North Carolina, and raised in Washington, DC. She attended Miner Teachers’ College (now the University of the District of Columbia) and went on to work as a clerk in the US Patent Office. The monotony of the job drove her to experiment with making up rhymes, and eventually Greenfield began writing poetry in earnest. Her first published poem appeared in the Hartford Times i...

                                                                          Quote found on the Internet   I used the above quote because there seems to be a war on drugs, violence and hatred spreading rapidly throughout the world. Although, I do not believe in what Malcolm X stood for. I support this quote because I am Black.   "Black isn't a primary, secondary, or tertiary color. In fact, black isn't on the color wheel because it isn't considered a color. It's all colors. Or rather, the absorption of all colors. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. "Black's color meaning is symbolic of mystery, power, elegance, and sophistication. In contrast, the color meaning can also evoke emotions such as sadness and anger. The color black represents power, ...