Sleeping Giant Africa: The day the giant awakes the world will shake

In commemorating Europe Black History Month of October, Ghanaian creative Seyram Agbleze unveils new inspiring works produced from Kente with Asafo flag collage techniques.

The textile artworks draw inspiration from this rich African art heritage as well.

He chose African textiles for his creations because of the vital role they play in African identity which he explains in his book- Journey of West African Textile Traditions.

Speaking on the need for African unity, Seyram Agbleze highlighted the need for African countries and the diaspora to truly unite as the collective prosperity of people of African descent depends on it and that it is about time the lip service from the AU stopped and actual work began.

He also said African unity was the thinking behind the work Sleeping Giant Africa. The continent of Africa was exploited in the past through transatlantic slavery and colonialism to build the West into the power it is today.

Unfortunately Africa still remains the foundation on which these developed countries flourish- at the expense of the giant Africa, resulting in levels of inequality that cannot be justified. The day the giant awakes the world will shake.

That quake from Africa’s awakening from slumber would change many things as we have come to accept as a way of life.

The world needs Africa to wake up and take its rightful place. As Kwame Nkrumah rightly said, it will be a force for good in the world and it will not only be liberating itself when it unites but the rest of the world as well.