Akinola Davies Jr. - Overview

His work is situated between West Africa and the UK as he identifies as a member of the global diaspora who is situated within the margins of being part of both worlds. Akinola tries to delicately navigate the collision of both colonial and imperial tradition and whilst advocating a return to indigenous narratives.

He explores themes of community, race, spirituality, identity and gender, telling the stories that bridge the gap between traditional and millennial communities. These themes come with a duality: that of necessity and urgency in regards to the medium of storytelling.

There is a large emphasis on a necessity for clear intention in concepts and a willingness to experiment with form: the preparation and meticulous research for his films assume a central role and are critical to his image manufacturing. He draws from aspects of collective, individual memory and lived experience.