History on Our Shirts with Afrikanista’s Xaritu Tee Collection
Afrikanista is a clothing line that pays tribute to former African generations, especially the sub-Saharan culture in West Africa. The brand is built around four entities:
● Photos of classic African families,
● African proverbs and slogans,
● Egyptian symbols,
● the Funky Diva spirit as the expression of the confident, independent and bold woman through the shoulder pads that are found in a few of her T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Aïssé N’Diaye, who is the Founder and Designer of Afrikanista, is of Mauritanian origin, particularly the Soninke ethnic group. The history of this part of West Africa is rich, through the Ghana Empire and the Mali Empire. Its traditions and contemporary art seen through african photography, and the elegance of its women (Soninke, Peule / Fulani), Bambara, Wolof, Tukulor, Rhassounké) all had an influence on her work. Through Afrikanista, she pays homage/tribute to her parents, especially her mother, and her West African culture.
We were introduced to Aïssé’s work through the lovely Anna Touré of Anna Touré Public Relations and we simply loved the notion of graphic tees that tell a story and celebrates cultures and its ancestors.
Afrikanista’s Xaritu collection is inspired by the designer’s dual background: African and French, and can be described as vintage, artsy and contemporary. Aïssé wanted to celebrate precisely this notion of dual culture by showing the similarities between the African heritage (family ties, the legacy that a mother transmits to her daughter) and the french influence by way of colonialism and the symbolism of plurality.
Olivia is wearing the KISSIMA shirt, which pays tribute to the African sharpshooters who died for France. This part of history deals with colonization which now sees its consequences through the form of immigration.
Laurinda is wearing the MARIAMA shirt, which pays tribute to the plurality of today's Marianne in France; (the tied scarf) as well as the (stripped epaulets) of the woman in the photograph is reminiscent of Marianne which is an allegory of the French republic.
The MA '& TATA shirt (not featured here but sold in our shop) honors the mother-daughter passing-on/relaying the torch, and celebrates the complicity between the designer and her mother.
Shop these pieces here.