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Fusing Benin Culture into Playing Cards: An Afrocentric Expression

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Expression is the act, process of making your thoughts, feelings, etc., known by speech, writing, or some other method or instance of representing in a medium. What makes such expression Afrocentric is when it emphasizes or promotes African culture and the contributions of Africans to the development of Western civilization or when it is basically centered on or derived from Africa or Africans... Such is the Benin themed playing cards designed by Osaze Amadasun.

Osaze Amadasun created these unique deck of playing cards that is themed around the ancient Benin Kingdom. Inspired by culture, the Bini Playing cards pays homage to the ancient kingdom of Benin & its classical works of art dating back to the 15th century.
"I'm creating the artwork for myself, and also for the people that are to come," - Mr Amadasun.
Osaze Amadasun is an illustrator and designer. His works offer a comical and satirical look at society, often political or historical. He studied architecture at the University of Lagos, Nigeria where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Design.

A film maker (Ema Edosio Deelen) created a video content interviewing Amadasun and getting to know how he was able to create his expressions with the Benin themed playing cards... Video below.


In the interview Ema Edosio, Amadasun highlighted how the king card represents the Oba of Benin, the queen card represents Aya oba, particular references to the queen on the festac mask. The Jack card represents the general commander of the army of Benin, other cards like the aces represent different cultural elements associated to the Benin kingdom and its people.



Amadasun has explored different methods and techniques to create his art, such as traditional painting, digital painting, sculpture and more.

He is beginning to look inward into the diverse culture around Africa to create his art. He is interested in documenting and storytelling through his work. Amadasun is inspired by his immediate environment, popular culture, music and nature, among others... All of which can be in general termed Afrocentric.

Do you find this interesting?

Would you argue his art isn't Afrocentric?

Do you think Afrocentric design and architecture by creatives like him is at least a source of hope to bring back African culture and tell the untold stories? 

Let us know your opinion in the comment section below! 

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Comments

  1. UMAR FAROUQ UMAR17 July 2020 at 10:19

    Our concept and ideology in Architecture, keep posting architect

    ReplyDelete
  2. rno7 August 2020 at 08:17

    My first view of the design world was eating utensils, silver work. I wondered if there were any that reflected "African American" design. There was no African American design and traditionally Africans and African Americans ate with hands. How we put our mark or our distinctness on the material world we live in is what people who do for themselves do. As an "African American" we buy from others what we use. Those things bare their marks, their designs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adelaja Fawaz25 September 2020 at 17:16

      it is exactly why we should start embracing and developing more on our own ways of doing things... thats what makes it african

      Delete

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