English | Ghanaian
My parents met in Ghana when my Mum was working as a VSO teacher. I heard quite a few stories growing up, mainly about when they first lived in the UK together. Even in the 1970s they experienced racial prejudice as an interracial couple. But within the family there are countless incredible stories about both Ghanaian and English sides of the family meeting for the first time. We are lucky to have lots of photos capturing these moments showing my Mum’s parents decked out in Kente as my Dad’s parents visited them.
While externally things may have been more complicated for them being an interracial couple in the UK; family was always a source of support.
I have grown up in the UK so naturally I am more embedded in this culture in terms of my experiences and knowledge of the language. Although I feel like this is balanced out somewhat by my curiosity about Ghana and the research I have done into my Ghanaian ancestry. We have also been able to visit Ghana more frequently and now have a permanent home there as well so I hope to always maintain an equal balance.
I think growing up I was filled with a lot of confusion over my identity. I had always felt very different growing up in a predominantly White area of the UK and often felt that I would fit in better in Ghana. But as I grew older and was able to travel between Ghana and the UK more frequently I felt even more lost as I experienced the same feelings of displacement or foreignness in Ghana as well. I think these experiences growing up left me in a kind of limbo over being mixed-race. Despite being half English and Ghanaian, I didn’t feel especially accepted in either country.
I think the first time I went to Ghana when I was around 10/11 was quite a big moment for me. As I mentioned earlier I had grown up in a predominantly White area and had mainly identified as being Black. Yet suddenly when I arrived in Ghana, especially more rural areas I would find everyone staring at me and my Mum along with calls of ‘Obruni Koko’ (White person). This was quite jarring for me because I think I had made some many assumptions or projections into what Ghana would be and how I would fit in. I thought I would finally find a sense of belonging but again found that same feeling of otherness which I had grown up with in the UK.
Today I think through my painting and research I have been coming to terms with my mixed-race identity. Especially thanks to the amount of diaspora communities I’ve become a part of and have been able to speak and share with. I think this is quite a common experience for a lot of mixed-race people. Feeling culturally isolated often makes you feel lost especially when it’s in situations with family. Painting has often been my outlet and safe place to express my feelings and thoughts.
I’ve always been made to feel really proud of my identity and ancestry, something that I think has always been instilled in me by my parents.
Do not let your sense of identity be projected onto you by other people. This is something that can only be determined by you, regardless of other people's opinions.
I wouldn’t say I really have a sole role model. I think there are many people I try to learn from and admire for specific traits. My parents especially. My Mum for her empathy and intelligence and my Dad for his bravery and strength.
Then there are many artists I admire from a professional/career viewpoint such as Michael Armitage and Njideka Akunyili Crosby. These are two artists who create incredible work and have made real strides into exploring ancestry, identity and cultural difference. All topics which I also seek to explore in my own work.
I’ve heard quite a few strange labels, exotic is always one that sticks in my head. It often feels like it comes with quite creepy or sexualised connotations. It’s something which I have also heard a lot of other mixed-race people talk about as well.
I’d say I’d admire aspects of lots of different cultures. I have a real love for Italy and Italian artistic culture having been lucky enough to experience living in Venice for a time. Seeing the skill and dedication that has been passed down through so many generations is an incredible thing.
I connect to my cultures through oral storytelling, cooking, and community. Cooking is quite a big one for me, especially in the last few years. Making sure I learn a lot of the recipes that I grew up with is really important to me. Not only are they culturally significant but even the process of making good food and the smells capture so many precious memories.
Storytelling and photography are also crucial to me. I’ve treasured my parents old photo albums and have tried to keep my own physical records/archives.