Ekow Nimako: Building Black Civilizations - Journey of 2,000 Ships
Art Gallery of Alberta 2 Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2C1
Charles Cousins
Ekow Nimako, “Building Black Civilizations,” no date
(Photography by Charles Cousins) (courtesy of the Art Gallery of Alberta)
This exhibition continues artist Ekow Nimako’s Afrofuturistic reimagining of ancient African kingdoms. Using LEGO® bricks as his medium, Nimako explores the mysterious 14th century sea voyage of the predecessor of Mansa Musa, ruler of the Mali Empire. According to legends, Abu Bakr II was an intrepid explorer. He abdicated his throne and took 2,000 ships on an expedition into the Atlantic, but never returned or was heard from again. Some accounts suggest the massive fleet reached as far as the Americas, but where they went beyond this is still unknown.
Combining architecture, historical accounts and fantastical possibilities, Nimako transcends the geometric form of LEGO® to recreate the epic voyage. In doing so, he presents an uninterrupted and unco-opted narrative of Black civilizations and imagines liberated futures.
