collage I made before The Sister passed.

The first time I was confronted with the reality of not only being Black as hell, but African on top of that, I tried to decline the invitation.

My grandfather Ahmed Obafemi, had driven to Baltimore in one of those vans everybody in the movement seems to have; that sliding door joint with optional AC that has moved everybody, they mama and all her kids from state to state. It was time for me to take one of those trips to meet a bunch of soon to be cousins, aunts and uncles who had been dedicating their life to freeing the land. However; before we could hit the road, one glaring detail had to be addressed. My grandfather always led with calm and charisma, which helps tremendously when you are about to be critical. I was six years old at the time and was very attached to this fly ass leather bomber jacket I had been gifted, that he started out complimenting…

Baba Ahmed: …but that American Flag on the sleeve, we gotta take that off and replace it with an African Flag.

6 Year Old AJ: BUT I DON’T WANNA BE AFRICAN!

Although I was slightly devastated and confused then, I do realize now, that level of haberdashery would be very dope and welcome at this point in life.Yet up to that point, 6 year old me had only seen those awful commercials with big bellies, skinny bodies and dusty, big peasy heads with black, sad ass, fly filled African faces. Even then, I could see being African was a lot of damn work. Everybody laughed at my rebuttal except me, but eventually I too would chuckle over this misunderstanding of self.

Last week, I realized this aspect of life, acknowledging my own African-ness and living it daily has driven the way I’ve observed and participated in life, while secretly being my WHY as it is referred to a lot these days. The first version of my WHY as a documentarian was simply to create images better representative of who we are culturally, but that was only scratching the surface.

I’d be lying if I said I always envisioned one day, I would succeed enough as a photographer to do my own exhibition of work documenting daily African life, during World Cup and then a photographer who unknowingly mentored me from afar, would actually make the time to come to my show snap a few flicks of me, my daughter and offer advice on how to really elevate my practice as a lens based artist. In a place like Atlanta though, all things are possible (except legit art funding) and in this very small place, alignment allows you to just end up meeting folks who you’ve looked up to; highly influential and genuine folks such as Sheila Pree Bright, whom I met at a dinner in Forth Hotel last year. At the beginning of the week she let me know she was coming by the exhibit and curator Karen Comer Lowe would be with her as well. Although the foot traffic to “From Afrique with Love” has left something to be desired, I do appreciate the quality of each visit I receive.

They loved the work or at minimum thought it was really good and began asking questions like “Why do these images interest you, Artemus?” “What drew you to these places and experiences?” I didn’t really have an answer right away but after a good 2 minute ramble an answer emerged that allowed me to make some interesting connections about WHY I would even go to Africa to document the lives of others, more than once. To create this body of work, I would travel back and forth to 7 countries in West Africa from 2019-2024 and until now, this moment where I was asked “What drew me to these places” I had simply chalked it up to being called and answering the call.

Usually I’m sitting in the window, like an artfully dressed cat

The reality as I understand it now, is that I’ve been preparing for these trips since I was 6 years old, even if I didn’t know it, my family was preparing me. Every van ride, GreyHound, summer trip to NYC or the South was my foundation for understanding who I am and my place in this world as an African raised in America. I believe we all owe ourselves the exploration of opportunities to travel unknown places and live experiences they ban books about, because when you live a life studying, observing and being taught as much about yourself and the role you fill in your community as a citizen of the globe, it becomes very simple to recognize or be reminded of your why.

This revelation is right on time as well, because the first month of this exhibit being up had me mostly focused on WHY there weren’t enough people walking through the neighborhood, why does it seem like the City of Atlanta is pulling attention away from other areas filled with art and culture or why I haven’t sold a piece on the wall yet (books and postcards are moving though)

Last week it was confirmed that “From Afrique, with Love” would be extended until 8/3/2026, not only providing more opportunities for all ya’ll to pull up, but also for me to do some thoughtful programming, that helps me tell you the story of WHY my whole life has led these moments I’ve recorded and am living currently.

This also means the exhibit will be open for another Castleberry Hill Arts Stroll, which is happening this Friday 7/10/2026. This time around I’m bringing some reinforcements in the form of MUSIC, FOOD and LIBATIONS. Below is the calendar for the Global Citizens Exchange; a programming concept that contextualizes what I have learned about myself from studying what it means to be an African in America. As a child I learned to look at the world as something to connect with and improve through my own interactions with others, so this is your invitation to come out to an event or two if you are in Atlanta.

7 /10 Art Stroll in Castleberry Hill

6pm-8pm Tapas and Drinks by MouthFeel Supper Club & West End Ginn

7pm-11pm Sounds by DJ Wally Sparks

7/12 Garage Sale and Live Painting behind Old Rabbit Gallery

7/15 Tapas and Drinks by MouthFeel Supper club

7/16 Artist Talk and Speed Dating

7/18 Live Painting and Garage Sale behind Old Rabbit Gallery

7/19 Live Painting and Garage Sale behind ORG

8/1 -8/3 Closing Events

My artist talk will be an especially great moment to learn what I am uncovering by considering a few questions I now ask myself as archivist of this current moment in history:

What happens when you learn you are African?

How can I present Africa as an experience and not merely a destination?

Is it possible to build a life that is not defined by double consciousness?

On 7/16/2026 photographer and teacher Fulani Jabari will be moderating the artist talk for “From Afrique, with Love” and we also will be putting a lil twist on that evening by transitioning to a lil speed dating event; art exhibits in Atlanta are honestly unbeatable for at MINIMUM, meeting a person you have never met, that is pretty interesting : )

screenshot from first Garage Session featuring Jordan Manley, Scott Box and Suarez. Video coming soon

We kicked off the Global Citizens Exchange with a Garage Session featuring the sorcery of Jordan Manley, Scott Box and Suarez on the improv jazz vibes. Shit sounds amazing, I’m working on an edit of the evening. Matter of fact DJ Wally Sparks, is gonna be next up in the garage, located in back of Old Rabbit Gallery. He will be spinning during Art Stroll on 7/10/2026.

In this final month, I’m looking forward to this exhibit being a point of connection where you can experience a new and familiar moment. I’m still adding some programming and will let you know about the additions here first. If you are unable to attend but have any questions about the work and seeing the show, please email me.

Maybe one day I’ll go to a World Cup game, but til then please come to “From Afrique, with Love”.Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this lil intro to a very deep story, know that I’m beginning an essay delving further into summarizing this journey to exhibiting during the World Cup. It’s funny how much I don’t care about that part of it all, the whole soccer thing at this moment in history just seems so trivial to these personal explorations of identity and world building.

When did you learn, you were African?

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