Global art and culture platform Manju Journal has partnered with Burberry on a visually striking photo series to mark Black History Month. The project, titled Together and One, explores notions of Black identity in Africa today, and draws inspiration from two photographic pioneers: American photojournalist Kwame Brathwaite, who galvanised the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement in the 1960s, and Ghanian image-maker Philip Kwame Apagya, who rose to acclaim for his joyful studio portraiture and vibrant, painted backdrops.
The resulting series, described by Manju Journal as “a sincere celebration and homage to Black culture”, melds Apagya’s use of world-building backdrops and Brathwaite’s focus on the empowerment of Black beauty, movement and style. “Each image stands alone and within the collection, questioning the differing dynamics of class, wealth, mental health, education, motherhood and unity,” says Manju Journal of the project, which was brought to life by a team of Ghanaian creatives, including photographer Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti, stylist Kusi Kubi, and creative director and Manju Journal founder, Richmond Orlando Mensah.
“Together and One portrays the entangled ideals of Africa, and Ghana, a country that while perhaps advancing more gradually than its neighbours, shows that at times the best progress can be slow progress,” adds Manju Journal.