March 11, 2019

Rozay the Villain and Citizins and the art of Collaging Culture

Young Africans are recreating their world. From music, to art, sports and fashion, they are crafting the universe they’ve always dreamed of. They are documenting it in ways they understand, so the history they create is never forgotten or erased. 

Freaky Alternate cover by Rozay the Villain

 

Artists like Nigeria’s Rozay the Villain, and Ghanaian Citizins document the culture as and when it happens using collage. As they merge art styles with pop culture, politics and their own personal statements, they etch youth culture into the sands of time.

 

ROZAY THE VILLAIN

The Nigerian producer, Rozay the Villain, documents the history of Nigerian pop culture as he sees it. His collages of popular Nigerian pop stars and cover art for some of the hottest alté (Alternative Nigerian Music and culture) tracks have made him master of the game.

Taking influence from 90’s and 2000’s artworks and album covers, Rozay merges them with current Nigerian pop culture. This spells out the current trend of nostalgia marketing and the love for 2000’s aesthetic in millennial culture.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsCofF7nJnQ/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1_GLYnYxq/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb2oiZGhjm3/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWIwGLVF-tN/

 

CITIZINS

With roots in Ghana, and a culture heavily influenced by America and Hip hop, Kojo ‘Citizins’ Owusu Kusi’s artwork are as expansive as they are complex. Each piece tells the story of culture- be it traditional or popular, politics as well as personal experiences. Citizins also creates sketches that interpolate realism with realism.

Citizins’ pieces are quirky as they are interesting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Buy1t46n5s7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuKJVbvn6-L/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrBhVqcHF2x/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWcghTHn9F/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnHUoj_nD8Q/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhKsklYnGyf/

 

By documenting youth culture as it happens, Rozay the Villain and Citizins not only capture the culture, but they create a historical database of what this period means for young Africans. A hieroglyph of sorts, telling our story.

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