​This installation was inspired by the book Akata Witch, written by Nigerian American author Nnedi Okorafor. The book was chosen as St. Paul Library’s Read Brave book for 2025. This project was brought to me by Ihotu Ali from the Oshun Center for Intercultural Healing. Ihotu gathered a collection of healers and artists to create an installation for the Read Brave events taking place at the downtown and Rondo library locations. We read the book and created spaces inspired by the amazing story. The library staff were also part of the creative team and did everything within their power to help transform the spaces into places where the community and the author could be greeted by seeing part of the story come to life.

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My contributions to the project included four main art pieces. The first was a set of illustrations inspired by the Nsibidi symbols featured on the book’s cover and written throughout the story. The second was a separate set of illustrations based on key events that took place in the book. I also created a detailed illustration of the Bakongo Cosmogram, drawing from three different iterations to help people understand the knowledge of, and make connections between, the separate versions. The final piece was a woven Chittim portal, inspired by the knowledge-based currency that magically fell from the sky when characters performed Juju or learned something significant. In addition to these artworks, I also contributed decor and helped create the overall atmosphere in several of the installation spaces.

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Mayor Carter and Nnedi Okorafor joined a panel led by three St. Paul teens who had each read the book. The panelists—all on equal footing—shared questions and exchanged thoughts with one another, creating a dynamic conversation between the mayor, author, and youth. My illustrations filled the walls of the room where this panel took place. After the panel, community members of all ages were gifted the posters right off of the walls and had the opportunity to have their posters and books signed by Nnedi Okorafor. A set of the posters was also gifted to the author!