SIKA KOKOO
Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti’s debut photobook captures his first personal encounter with his homeland, Ghana
Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti, also known as Sekyi, first encountered his father’s homeland, Ghana, in 2019. Having grown up in a small town in the Netherlands and living in Amsterdam, he had yet to fully experience the place that shaped his family’s roots. The journey left a lasting impression and became the inspiration for his debut photobook, Sika Kokoo. Rich with swathes of gold, striking portraiture, and paired proverbs, this limited-edition publication presents a contemporary view of Ghanaian culture while celebrating its immense heritage. The book combines photography with tactile, gold-embellished pages, creating an object that is as visually compelling as it is physically engaging-a record of identity, history, and personal reflection. Sika Kokoo, which translates to “red money” in Twi and also evokes “gold” in English, draws on the Akan understanding of gold as a physical manifestation of life’s vital force, Kra (the soul). Golden objects in Akan art carry symbolic meaning and convey proverbs, and in this book, Sekyi pairs his photographs with such objects to explore the interplay between imagery, Adinkra symbols, and cultural storytelling. The use of gold ink and experimental design further enhances the book’s narrative, making it a distinctively personal and experimental artist’s object.
EXPLORE SEKYI'S COLLABORATION WITH MANJU JOURNAL AND BURBERRY FOR TOGETHER AND ONE HERE
The project extends Sekyi’s ongoing body of work, Golden Boy, which portrays young Black men around the world−at rest, at play, through a soft and analogue gaze. The portraits are intimate, familiar, and warm; they are at once nostalgic, timeless, and idealized, offering a view of Ghana distinct from the Western perspectives Sekyi grew up internalizing. Since graduating in 2017, Sekyi has collaborated with Daily Paper, The New Originals, Dazed MENA, T Magazine and Schön! magazine, and was selected as one of Foam Talents in 2021. With Sika Kokoo, his halcyon aesthetic is fully realized. Straddling the line between documentary and fashion photography, his work reveals a fascination with subjects navigating societal prejudice, aiming to disrupt stereotypical representation. Through careful observation and empathetic engagement, Appiah-Nti captures the essence of his subjects, with “boyhood” emerging as a central theme across his practice.
All images courtesy of the artist Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti.
Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti’s debut photobook captures his first personal encounter with his homeland, Ghana
Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti, also known as Sekyi, first encountered his father’s homeland, Ghana, in 2019. Having grown up in a small town in the Netherlands and living in Amsterdam, he had yet to fully experience the place that shaped his family’s roots. The journey left a lasting impression and became the inspiration for his debut photobook, Sika Kokoo. Rich with swathes of gold, striking portraiture, and paired proverbs, this limited-edition publication presents a contemporary view of Ghanaian culture while celebrating its immense heritage. The book combines photography with tactile, gold-embellished pages, creating an object that is as visually compelling as it is physically engaging-a record of identity, history, and personal reflection. Sika Kokoo, which translates to “red money” in Twi and also evokes “gold” in English, draws on the Akan understanding of gold as a physical manifestation of life’s vital force, Kra (the soul). Golden objects in Akan art carry symbolic meaning and convey proverbs, and in this book, Sekyi pairs his photographs with such objects to explore the interplay between imagery, Adinkra symbols, and cultural storytelling. The use of gold ink and experimental design further enhances the book’s narrative, making it a distinctively personal and experimental artist’s object.
EXPLORE SEKYI'S COLLABORATION WITH MANJU JOURNAL AND BURBERRY FOR TOGETHER AND ONE HERE
The project extends Sekyi’s ongoing body of work, Golden Boy, which portrays young Black men around the world−at rest, at play, through a soft and analogue gaze. The portraits are intimate, familiar, and warm; they are at once nostalgic, timeless, and idealized, offering a view of Ghana distinct from the Western perspectives Sekyi grew up internalizing. Since graduating in 2017, Sekyi has collaborated with Daily Paper, The New Originals, Dazed MENA, T Magazine and Schön! magazine, and was selected as one of Foam Talents in 2021. With Sika Kokoo, his halcyon aesthetic is fully realized. Straddling the line between documentary and fashion photography, his work reveals a fascination with subjects navigating societal prejudice, aiming to disrupt stereotypical representation. Through careful observation and empathetic engagement, Appiah-Nti captures the essence of his subjects, with “boyhood” emerging as a central theme across his practice.
All images courtesy of the artist Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-Nti.