Àkànbí —" Born with Purpose"

Artwork story

Àkànbí is inspired by my personal connection to my Oríkì My late grandmother never called me by any other name than my Oríkì, and perhaps that is why Àkànbí feels less like a name and more like a calling. I created this work as a reflection on the power of names, identity, and destiny, using my blue tonal-breaking technique to layer inherited memory, lived experience, and becoming; Àkànbí represents a child born with purpose, a reminder that our names can carry stories, assignments, and identities that speak to who we are and who we are becoming.

Àkànbí — Born With Purpose is a personal reflection on identity, destiny, and the belief that no life is accidental. Inspired by my own Oríkì and the Yoruba understanding of Orí inú, the work celebrates the inner identity that precedes outward existence. Through fragmented blue tonal planes, I explore the layers of who we are: our inheritance, experiences, struggles, and unfolding purpose. Drawing from Yoruba praise traditions and personal reflection, I wanted to create more than a portrait—a visual affirmation of purpose, possibility, and the courage to fulfil one's destiny. It invites viewers to question what their names carry and what they are called to become.