Bankslave, the renowned Kenyan graffiti artist, has immortalized AKA (real name Kiernan J. Forbes) with a portrait wall mural in the streets of Nairobi. The South African rapper was recently shot at close range outside a restaurant in eastern Durban. The 35-year-old award-winning rapper is the latest victim of gun violence in South Africa. About four months ago, another South African amapiano musician, DJ Sumbody, was fatally shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Jo’burg city. AKA’s parents confirmed his death by putting out a statement on his Twitter account noting that “It is with extreme sadness that we […]
Ubuntu is a Bantu term that means “humanity”. When expanded, the term often translates to “I am because we are” or “humanity towards others”. Philosophically, Xhosa, a Bantu-speaking community in southern Africa, uses the term to mean “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”. Other tribes and communities use the term to mean “universal truth and a way of life [and] a concept of an open society”. When asked about the Ubuntu philosophy during the launch of Ubuntu Linux, Nelson Mandela said: In the old days, when we were young, a traveller through our country, […]
Dedan Kimathi was a heroic and revolutionary leader who fought against the British colonial regime in Kenya in the 1950s. He led Kenya’s independence movement, Mau Mau Uprising, as a freedom fighter and by serving as a senior military and spiritual leader. Mau Mau’s sole purpose was to remove white settlers who had forcefully taken up land previously owned by Kenyans. After the relentless fight, the colonial government captured and hanged him to death at Kamiti prison.
A digital mural of Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner to ever walk the Earth, is up for sale as an NFT (click here to buy). Kipchoge is the first man in the world to run a 42-kilometres-marathon in under 2 hours (1:58:40). Own an original digital copy of Kipchoge’s mural. The mural physically exists at the heart of Nairobi city (along Kenyatta Avenue). He who buys this a) appreciates and promotes Bankslave’s revered legacy as a world-known graffiti artist who uses the art to advocate for social change while showing respect to the world’s legends – he has done paintings of […]
Bankslave has brought the 49th tallest building in the world – Empire State Building – to Nairobi. The mural is located at Empire Coffee Eatery (George Pardmore off Rose Avenue, Kilimani, Nairobi). In addition to the good food served there, drop by to check out the mural. Don’t hesitate to snap a picture with the mural and tag Bankslave on social media posts. Also, catch Bankslave in Machakos on July 3, 2021. During this Amapiano Tour event (Machakos edition), Bankslave will be doing a live painting session. In attendance will also include Mr JazziQ, DJ Protege, Ally Fresh, DJ Malaika, […]
Kenya’s peace train is ready to roll. Kenyan graffiti artists received permission from the Rift Valley Railway to spray-paint a 10-car commuter train with peace messages and icons. It may be the first train in Africa with officially authorized graffiti. The train will travel through the massive Nairobi slum of Kibera, one of the largest in Africa, where young gangs torched, looted and killed in the spasms of violence that followed the 2007 Kenyan presidential election. “What we’re doing with the train here now, it’s part of a civic education and a way to advertise peace,” says Uhuru B, a […]
Bankslave (aka Kevin Esendi) is best known in Kenya for being one of our leading graffiti artists. He is a man who has mainly made his mark artistically, not for art exhibitions held in local galleries, but for his fabulous designs spray-painted on walls all around the city, coast and countryside. Probably his most famed work is a portrait of Lupita Nyong’o painted at the GoDown Art Centre. It has been a source of inspiration to many up-and-coming Kenyan artists. It has also become emblematic of Kenya’s booming graffiti art scene. But Bankslave also gets called to do special projects […]
NAIROBI — Some of Kenya’s graffiti artists have become a voice for social change, using their art to push boundaries and make statements about the country’s political elite. Nine years ago, Kevin Esendi aka Bankslave dropped out of art school and embraced his first love – graffiti. Most of his fans and fellow artists now know him by his street name – “Bankslave.” “Bankslave” has risen to become one of Nairobi’s foremost graffiti artists. He says the art form – which some consider a public nuisance – has evolved in Kenya to become an outlet for political opinion. “Graffiti is a […]
he images hit you hard in the face. They virtually jump out of the concrete surfaces they are painted on. A huge, menacing vulture sits on a throne with a briefcase overflowing with cash cuffed on his wrist with a chain. Around it is evidence of all manner of scandals that have taken the Kenyan economy on a free fall. In another, vultures arrogantly walk around with their families. These images are all over the city of Nairobi, courtesy of the deft hands of a group of young graffiti artists. They are in public toilets, buildings and roads. Their message […]
IMAGES: L-R FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM BANKSLAVE In an interview with CNN for the African Voices segment, we meet Bankslave, one of the artists to pilot graffiti art in Kenya. IMAGE: FACEBOOK/ BANKSLAVE Like many artists, Bankslave always knew he had talent when at the age of nine and ten he would scribble on walls and get a proper beating from his mother. IMAGE: FACEBOOK/ BANKSLAVE He grew up in Kibera slums and when in high school, he picked up the art, inspired by the graffiti on Kenyan matatus. IMAGE: MATWANA MATATU CULTURE His work is a showcase of Nairobi characters. Bankslave says: I want to […]
Visual artists are ever in a quandary over where to exhibit their art. Either their work requires more space than some Nairobi galleries and art centres have available or the price of renting exhibition space is more than artists can afford. Some proprietors are also slow in providing payment to artists after their artworks are sold. However, many ingenious Kenyan artists have found ways around these roadblocks. Quite a few display their art on Facebook (like Michael Soi, Mbuthia Maina and many others), while some establish their own websites (like Bankslave) or open up galleries of their own. (For instance, this […]
Tunapanda Institute’s look has been enhanced! Last week, Tunapanda’s look got enhanced through the use of graffiti. In exchange for a web design service, Bankslave, one of the graffiti artists in Nairobi had a chance to “use our wall as his canvas”. Our inner court’s wall was the canvas. Bankslave’s passion for art (specifically street graffiti) started at a younger age. He grew up in Kibera watching the best and worst cultures of the slum. He uses his graffiti as a way to voice out his opinions to the world — he uses graffiti to express himself. He appreciates good cultures and […]
In one of Segerstrom’s favourite studies, researchers asked a group of people to use a beautiful piece of classical music to raise their moods, while telling other volunteers simply to listen to the symphony. The result: The concert didn’t help those who were focused on lifting their spirits—but the others wound up feeling much better. “To truly be happy, you have to stop trying,” says Segerstrom (it’s true; naturally happy people never do these 6 things). Even monitoring yourself—Am I feeling better yet?—gets in the way, studies show. Instead, aim to be engaged. “Engagement bypasses pessimism,” she says. One reason: When […]
