blackjoyzine

-CONTENTS-
COVER GIRL 12
Whitney Madueke
PLACES OF BLACK JOY 16
Marching to Black Joy 18
The Black Joy Project 36
A Simple and Quiet Life 40
BLACK JOY AS RESISTANCE 44
Black Twitter on Black Joy As Resistance46
Why you all in my Grillz 48
My Presence is my Resistance 56
BLACK JOY AS SELF CARE 66
How to cultivate Black Joy 68
Interview : Axelle Jah Njike 70
It took me Some Time 76
Happier and Healthier 80
HIGHLIGHTS
Posters
Coloring
Essays
Poems
Survey and many more surprises !
Enjoy !

BLACK JOY ZINE : AN ORIGINAL IDEA BY AYOKA AND 33 CARATS WEBZINE
Editors-in-Chief :
Alice Gbelia & Sanaa Carats
Creative Director & Publisher:
Sanaa Carats
Cover Illustration:
Dija Ouija @dijaouija
Cover Layout & Posters:
Nadina Ali @nadinadidthis
THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS :
Adekunle Adeleke
Adreinnne Waheed
Andre Barnwell
Arya Haliba
Aubrian Watson
Axelle Jah Njiké
Cecil R. Walker
Christin Bela
Danielle M
David Mensah
Delphine Alphonse
Elsie Cullen
Hina Hundt
Jammeson Hunter
Josephine Kibuka
Just Naf
Kimberly Anthony
Kleaver Cruz
Natalyn Bradshaw
Nyanza D
Odilon Ngonda
Parys Gardener
Phillip Simpson
Ronie Charles
Saira Rootsycom
Shadé Lapite
Shavonne Graham
TEDA
Youssou Chop
Youth Grillz
@kunle_paints
@waheedpix
@sex.n.sandwiches
@arya_ha
@iamaubrian
@axelle_jah_njike
@cecilrwalker
@cflgroupmedia
@mavDanie
@david.mensah_
@dailes.fines
@elayocu
@laceriseelectrique
@creedkoolbragga
@jkibuka
@justnaf
@kimberlyskinny
@theblackjoyproject
@npbradshaw
@nyanzad
@odilon.ngonda
@parygardenerart
@artbyphillipsimpson
@roniecharles
@sairarootsycom
@TheShadyFiles
@blackjoyparade
@onlyteda
@youssouchop
@youth_grillz_worldwide
Contact us :
info@ayokadeco.com
contact@33carats.com

#BLACKJOYZINE

‘‘Be reckless with joy!’’
Whitney Madueke on pursuing her dreams from Lagos to New York, her
winning smile and sharing joy as an influencer.
By Alice Gbelia
We discovered Whitney on Instagram and
instantly fell in love with her smile
- TheWhitneySmile © - and her relentless
optimism. We knew we wanted her to
grace the cover the very first issue of our
zine. We spoke to Whitney about her knack
for happiness, her life as an influencer and
how she cultivates authenticity and joy on
and offline.
Could you please introduce yourself in your own
words?
I’m Whitney Madueke! Im from Nigeria and currently
live between Lagos & New York. I moved to NYC two
years ago after changing my career path from law to
fashion design. I’m currently studying at Parsons while
working as an influencer & model! I believe in dreaming
recklessly and chasing it persistently!
How did your influencer journey begin?
It began a few years ago, out of pure love of being in
front of the camera. Once I went natural, I started my
YouTube channel and then expanded to Instagram! As
an influencer I love creating content around brands and
sharing that with my tribe. It gives me the opportunity to
work creatively and to also share my voice and journey
with others!
One of your most defining features is your
bright, gorgeous smile! You use the hashtag
TheWhitneySmile. Is it your trademark?
Surprisingly it has become my trademark.I think amongst
everything, it’s the one thing people recognize and
admire - a smile that brings them joy! Through the years
I’ve always wondered what sets me apart from others
and how do I share that with the world authentically
and I think when I began to love myself confidently and
boldly for others to see, my smile grew bigger and better!
Now it captivates other tremendously and if anything
that’s the first thing people notice about me!Yes it is my
trademark ! A symbol of boldly living as yourself and
sharing and feeling joy !!
I love your quote” Be reckless with joy!” You seem
to be a very optimistic person. How important is it
for you to maintain a positive outlook on life?
I’ve always been someone that found joy in the littlest
things and sometimes you’ll catch me smiling for no
particular reason. My muscles are just set that way
haha! I’ve carried that with me. And in sorrowful times,
I like to remind myself of the days when I’ve felt joy.
Life is really a rollercoaster and not everything is
sunshine. I do try to remind myself of my past joy, while
trying to feel my present feelings and also letting go
of them. It’s a process and some days I’m better at
positivity and some other days I need someone else
to be the sunshine on my rainy day!
What does a typical day in your life look like?
A typical day is really a mix of working at home creating
content, sharing and planning content. Emails - lots of
it and also attending events or brand-related meetings.I
could be at home all day working on my laptop or in front
of the camera or i could have a day full of appointments
and events to attend.

It looks like your little piglets bring you a lot of joy!
They even have their own IG accounts. Tell us a bit
more about them.
Social media is often criticized for being fake, with
people presenting a highly curated version of their
lives. As an influencer, what is your take on that?
They do! Omg! Moving to nyc has been a lonely ride on
most days! Living in a new city and trying to navigate
your way through things can be really overwhelming at
times. As much as I may put on a smiley face, sometimes
it’s not always that way. I needed some company so I
got my little piglets Winnie & Minnie and I love how
they’ve helped me love beyond myself. They helped
me focus less on myself and more on them! I love
how they are in their own world. They remind me to
just take each day at a time and breathe. At this point,
they are my daily therapy. Haha, love em!
It’s important to remember that you control social
media, not the other way round. Like anything in life
there’s the good, the bad and the ugly and you have
the power to decide what it(s going to be for you. I’m
always actively following and unfollowing people to
protect my space and also to surround myself with the
right energy. I pay no attention to fake people. I prefer
realness all the way through so I’m always aware of
who I let into my social media space. As for me, I always
try to have fun in front of the camera. I share moments
whether I’m down or hyped up. It’s important to me
that my story is as true as possible so I can help other
people who may be going through things in their lives.
You’re a big fan of gospel. What is your favourite
gospel song, the one that gets you in a good mood
every time?
I love some Tasha Cobbs, Travis Greene, Marvin Sapp
but my go to song is The Call by Isabel Davis.
Is there an Instagram account that you follow that
always brings a smile you your face?
Mine! Ahahah!
Whitney with her piglets Winnie and Minnie
What else brings you joy in your daily life?
Drazing! Omg ! I never thought I would be able to draw
but with school, I learnt how to in a few weeks and I’ve
opened up to it. I love illustrating - it’s such a joyful
thing for me!
Follow Whitney and her winning smile on Instagram:
@whitneymadueke
“When creating content for myself, I actually like to use whatever is around me
and spontaneously go in front of my tripod and camera and create whatever
comes to my mind based on my mood. I like to keep things as relaxed as
possible unless I have a specific idea in mind that has to be executed a certain
way. Most times it’s as simple as placing a flower in front of you and getting a
few fun shots! Your personality is what makes content engaging. You should
also know what your audience loves about you and maximise on that. For
me, it’s my smile and #TheWhitneySmile hashtag. It’s what everyone loves
about me”.

PLA

CES OF BLACK JOY

MARCHING TO
-From Adreinne Waheed to the Black Joy Parade and ca

BLACK JOY
nivals all over the world, we will walk you to Black Joy!-

Oakland hosts an event dedicated to Black joy called the BLACK
JOY PARADE. We interviewed Shavonne Graham after their second
successful event. Is the city about to be capital of Black Joy ?
Was there a specific event that made you decide to create the Black Joy
Parade? In the video presenting the parade, Elisha Greenwell mentioned
being inspired by the city of Oakland and how it’s evolved.
In 2017 Elisha attended the San Francisco Pride Parade and while she was
there she has an ah-ha moment “Why isn’t there a celebration like this for Black
people?” She thought it was so beautiful how the gay community and its allies
came together to celebrate and wanted to create something similar for the
African-American community.
As the parade is a yearly event how do you maintain this positive spirit
throughout the year. And after the first parade did you notice if there was
responsibility of your organisation to become a positive source for the
community ?
We keep the momentum going by using out social media, also by participating
in local events. Elisha does a lot of speaking engagements. We also have a
fundraiser and make sure we’re present in the community. I don’t think we feel
a responsibility to be a positive force. We are just doing what we do and if we it
resonates with people we appreciate that.
What was the reaction of the sponsors and paraders when you presented
them the project when you started? And on the other side what were the
reactions of the passers-by on the day of the event?
Everyone was receptive and most passerbys ended up being attendees
because they wanted to stop and see what was going on.
As the Black Joy Parade is currently a local event are you planning on to take
it to other cities or would you like to make Oakland the capital of Black Joy?
We would love to expand in the future but we want to perfect the local event
before doing so.
Let’s talk about the political side: did you meet any strong opposition in the
Black community or in the city from people who didn’t want the parade to happen?
I’m not aware of any direct opposition but several influencers in Oakland
had their opinions on what part of the city it should be in and how we do our
marketing. At the end of the day we stuck with downtown because we wanted
this to be a statement in Oakland and didn’t want it to get buried in one of the
neighborhoods.
And finally what was the best moment of last year’s event?
Best moments are subjective. I really loved it seeing all of the people enjoying
the moment the first year we had 14,000 people attend and this year there
were almost 20,000. It was beautiful to see all of those Black people and our
allies enjoying Black culture with zero violent incidents just love.
By Sanaa Carats
Photos: Aubrian Watson

The American
photographer
chose to
capture
moments of the
contemporary
Black Joy and
Resistance.
Her work
reflects
emotions,
activism and
aesthethics.
By Sanaa Carats
Photos courtesy of Adreinne Waheed
Why did you choose Black Joy and Resistance as a topic for your book?
The images and the climate under which they were made are what informed the
title. As I was editing images for this book, the energy that popped off the page
was joyful. The book named itself.
Can joy be political and/ or an act of resistance ?
Absolutely. We are living in a time where it is controversial to say that Black lives
matter. So, Black joy is resistance in a sense. Black joy is resisting racism, sexism
and oppression. Black Joy is resisting calls to conform, whether that be to a
European beauty standard and sensibility or a «hetero-normative» one. There
is joy in being yourself.
As an artist do you think you have a responsibility to engage in political
discourse ?
No, I do not think it is the artist’s responsibility to engage in political discourse.
As an artist, I believe you should make whatever makes you feel good. Although
I do understand that political and/or social discourse in your art will give it more
visibility and make it «more important» because it contributes to the conversation.

ADREINNE WAHEED
You have been documenting the African-American Community in your past
work. Have you noticed an evolution in the notion of Black Joy and resistance
from one decade to the next?
I have been collecting found images of African-Americans from the Civil War to
the present day. What’s different is that Black Joy and Resistance is louder now
and takes on many more shapes and forms. There was a time not too long ago,
when any small resistance could mean death for Black and Brown folks. Today
we have more tools at our disposal. Our joy and resistance could take the form
of a podcast or a gofundme for a victim of police brutality or filming BBQ Beckys
or Black Twitter.
Your book includes images taken at AFROPUNK Brooklyn and South Africa,
West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, the Fees Must Fall protest in South Africa,
the Million Man March in Washington, DC and a carnival in Bahia.
All of the images in this book were shot by me. These cities were chosen because
these are the places and events that I happened to attend. Once I decided to do
a book, I asked myself which of my images excited me the most. Although I have
been shooting for decades, I had never shown my work to a large audience. I
decided that more current images would be best. So, I took a look at all of my
images shot over the past 5 years. This book is the result. I am fortunate to have
had an 18 year career as a magazine photo editor. Therefore, all of the other
contributors to the book, including Jamel Shabazz are colleagues, mentors or
friends.
How long did it take you to complete the book ?
The process went pretty quickly. The idea sprang in April 2018 and the book was
in hand by December 2018. In 9 months, The Black Joy baby was born!
You’ve worked worked at Vibe magazine between 2006 and 2008 . What can
you tell us about hip-hop as a form of Black Joy and Resistance?
Yes, I worked at Vibe, ESSENCE and KING magazines over the course of 18 years.
Hip-Hop has always been a form of Black Joy and Resistance, just as most all
Black music has been. Say it loud - I’m Black and I’m proud!
And finally, what brings you joy?
What brings me joy is traveling, being the favorite auntie to my nieces and
nephews, spending time with good friends, live music and of course photography.
Do you have a song and an artwork symbolising Black Joy and Resistance ?
My Black Joy and Resistance anthem is Black by Buddy. The art is every single
page of my book.

CARNIVAL VIBIN’
When it comes to celebrating and marching to Black Joy
Carnival holds a special place. We’ve asked the opinions of
photographers who capture the liveliest and happiest moments
of this yearly instititutions. Jammerson Hunte for the Carribean
celebrations and David Mensah for the Nottin Hill Festival.
By Alice Gbelia and Sanaa Carats
Jammerson Hunte- Saint Lucia
For how long have you been a photographer? As a professional photographer,
could tell us a bit more about why did you decide to take pictures of Caribbean
carnivals?
My name is Jammerson Hunte from Saint Lucia I started my professional
photography career in 2009 when I was studying Economics at the University of
the Caribbean in Trinidad.
Ever year carnivals are expected to place of genuine Black Joy and authentic
gathering of for the community and also hold a place in the history of the
country. Which carnival is the best to you and why?
I love the community and our district carnivals because they are more intimate as
opposed to the national carnival where there are a lot of tourists. The celebrations
are more guarded.
On a personal level what else brings you joy in your daily life? When was a recent
time where you experienced pure joy?
Seeing persons happy comfortable in their skin and being true to themselves and
enjoying the experience that comes with that.Saint Lucia independence parade,
there was a sense of unity and togetherness all creeds and all races.

DAVID MENSAH - LONDON
I was so moved by the joy that reached out at me through this tapestry
of faces that I just kept on taking more and more photos.
How long have you been doing photography?
I’ve been ‘doing’ photography for the last eight years.
My interest and my practice, of course, go back further
than that but that is the period in which I’ve taken it
more seriously and tried to make a living from it.
When did you start photographing carnival and why
did you decide to photograph carnivals?`
Technically I started photographing carnival in 2005
when I was given my first camera phone by my older
brother and I started documenting some of my friends,
normally drunken, antics at the event. However I started
making more serious efforts to photograph carnival in
2010, so that makes it eight and a half years. It happened
almost by accident, in a sense. A good friend of mine
was performing in a band and I promised I would get
at least one photo of her. It was a one off, something
she’d been wanting to do for years so it made sense to
document it. However, there are thousands of people
at Notting Hill Carnival every year so finding her was
tricky and while I was looking I thought it made sense
to take a few photos of other people performing. I was
so moved by the joy that reached out at me through
this tapestry of faces that I just kept on taking more and
more photos. The streets of London had transformed
into a dance floor and the onlookers were transfixed.
The sun was shining and the colourful costumes were
emblazoned with sequins that shook rapturously on
dancing bodies. I loved every moment I framed. I knew
I had to come back for more and so I did. I’ve come
back for more every year since.
How is photographing carnivals different from
photographing other types of events?
Photographing carnival is different to photographing
other events because the thing that is being performed
(the parade itself) and the people that are there to
experience it are all part of the whole. For example,
when I photograph live music I normally just take a
few shots of the crowd but the chief emphasis is the
performance. It’s a similar thing at festivals. At carnival
the whole thing blends into one and it could even be
said that the spectators are part of the spectacle.
What is challenging about photographing carnivals.
What is rewarding?
The most challenging thing about photographing
carnival is being sat for two days in front of my laptop
and working my way through a massive plethora of
images and trying to remember what my intentions
might have been when I was taking a photo. Every face
represents a character in a stoat at the time appears
to be chaos photographically speaking, but when one
does it almost feels magical.
Carnivals are places of genuine Black Joy and hold
a unique place in Caribbean culture. Which carnival
do you think best embodies this spirit? * Is there a
Carnival you haven’t yet photographed but would
love to?
Yes carnivals are definitely places of black joy. I’ve
published a few poems about carnival stating exactly
that. Sadly my attempts to photograph other carnivals
around the UK have all fallen flat. However I would
absolutely love to shoot Trinidad carnival the place
where it all started.
On a personal level what else brings you joy in your
daily life?
The simplest things in life bring me joy; a cup of
herbal tea and a book. I love to read and I love my
own company. I also do a form of meditation which
includes chanting everyday. Doing this, watching the
incense smoke sifting through the air as I do and the
candles blazing. This brings me the deepest peace
and a joy that makes my whole body sing.
When was a recent time where you experienced
pure joy?
The last time I experienced pure joy was when I took
my eleven year old nephew to see Creed II at the
cinema. He loved every moment of that movie. We
both did. It can be difficult at times to know which
stories to tell. This aspect of the edit is also the most
rewarding I should add.

JOY IS BEST
SERVED
IN A GROUP
In 2015, Kleaver Cruz decided to add more joy to digital spaces, in
order to present an alternative, more layered narrative of Black life. His rallying
call took him around the world, where he engaged in conversations with other
Black folks about joy as self-expression, resistance and healing experience.
We asked him about this journey and how The Black Joy Project has impacted
his life.
By Alice Gbelia-Photds courtesy of Kleaver Cruz,
The Black Joy Project + Dominique Sindayiganza

Who is Kleaver Cruz?
I am a second-generation Uptown New-Yorker and
Dominican-American from a working class family.
I am the product of a lot of love from many amazing
Black women and femmes. I am Black and Queer and
a myriad of other identities that overlap.
It’s been more than three years since you launched
The Black Joy Project in 2015 and travelled the
world to understand what Black joy means to Black
people from the diaspora. What have you learnt
from this journey?
In the early phase of The Black Joy Project, I invited
other Black folks to join me in adding more Black joy
to digital spaces and ultimately in the “real” world
to illustrate the real tensions we live with having to
hold various amounts of pain and joy. I have learned
so much from traveling across the diaspora. I have
had incredible conversations, some lasting hours and
others minutes. Of the over one thousand people
whose definitions of Black joy I have recorded, the
most common response to the question: “What does
Black joy mean to you?,” has been along the lines of,
“to unapologetically be myself.” That is to say, we just
want to be fully self expressed, wherever we exist,
without persecution.
Have you noticed any singularities in how people
express joy in the African diaspora? Or any
similarities?
By definition, I believe Black joy at its best is a
communal experience that offers love, healing,
pleasure and some form of resistance within those
actions. In the pereferias (the poor and working class
neighborhoods) of São Paulo, people may gather at a
Samba school to create and perfect songs and dances
about the take down of violent, state-backed military
forces in their communities. In the Netherlands it may
look like having public forums where people can
speak out on the experiences they are having in that
overwhelmingly white context and how it relates to
other parts of Europe and the world. In Cuba, it could
look like helping a neighbor out with repairs in their
home or other forms of support with everyday life. In
South Africa, it could look like setting up a space for
young people to connect and sell products made by
them in a store located in the middle of a gentrifying
neighborhood. And all of these examples could be
found outside of those countries, in other parts of the
Diaspora as well. There are so many examples and so
much overlap of the incredible communal force of Black joy.
‘‘By definition, I believe Black
joy at its best is a communal
experience that offers love,
healing, pleasure and some
form of resistance within
those actions.’’

*Black Joy in the age of Trump. Black Joy as
resistance. Tell us more about that.
Trump’s election was not a watershed moment for most
Black people in the US. There is a war against Black
folks that has been occuring in this country since the
first enslaved Africans were forced onto this land. This
is to say that much of the Black joy practices that were
in existence prior to this president, are still here. What
this moment is calling for is a deeper commitment
and an expansion of that work. By accepting that the
world is structurally and in most places, socially, set up
to kill Black people, then to actively choose to enjoy
one’s life (whether for a moment or longer) is an act of
resistance. Each time we get all our bills paid, smile,
dance, sing our favorite song, spend time with a loved
one, etc., we are doing so in a context that is incredibly
anti-Black and violent. Black joy, for me, has always
been an opportunity to practice one of the most radical
tool we as Black people have access to: imagination.
That is, we have the ability to create what we need that
is not yet there. We have the ability to imagine a world
that actually loves us back. Each act of Black joy is a
moment of putting that imagination into practice and
affirming that joy can be a our baseline, not pain. Or at
the very least, that joy is integral to our existence and
must be upheld as such. I also want to say that just
because it may not be called Black joy by someone
it doesn’t mean it isn’t valid. These words have not
always been used to describe what we are discussing,
the understanding has long preceded the language.
How has The Black Joy Project influenced your
mental health? Today, how do you cultivate and
share joy ?
The project has created a type of positive karma
that keeps going, especially on my really low days.
On days when I question myself and the work that
I am doing, the Universe sends me some type of
reminder to encourage me to keep going. It has come
in the form of messages from supporters, texts from
friends, a “random” post I see somewhere and other
serendipitous moments that I know have resulted
from committing to this work. I also know that now
when I experience anxiety and similar states of mind,
that I have to remember to choose joy as much as
possible. Not as a means to run away from whatever
is at hand, but as a type of grounding that things will
get worked out and for me it will be best if I try to
find the joy in whatever is that is happening. I would
say I cultivate joy a few ways: through conversations
with people, through my somewhat regular morning
Insta-story posts that offers little reminders for living
your best life, through cooking for people I love and
having them eat in my home and by having a very
intentional set up in my home to evoke comfort and
joy. I’m sure there are more ways, what I’m trying to
convey is that joy is best served in a group where we
can be together and hold each other in a way that is
not possible or as strong individually.
‘‘ We have the ability to
imagine a world that actually
loves us back. Each act of
Black joy is a moment of
putting that imagination into
practice and affirming that
joy can be a our baseline, not
pain.’’

A SIMPLE AND QUIET
LIFE
To illustrate the theme of Black joy, I chose to
make a drawing that will appeal to children and
big children alike. It’s not a portrait, nor a painting,
but an imaginary drawing. To me, joy is living
a simple and quiet life, have space, some
sun, good food, nature…. And most of all, to be
able to live my life like anyone else, without any
fear of being judged. This seems simple… and yet,
when you think about it : these basic things are
a luxury for many of us. I feel like I’m cut off from
the world, in this concrete jungle, this misery and
this injustice.

J’ai de la joie, tôt le matin, quand je vois
le soleil s’éveiller en même temps que
moi,
et tard le soir quand les lucarnes
lumineuses de la ville, parsèment
l’obscurité
J’ai de la joie pendant que je cueille sur
le rebord de la fenêtre les fraises que j’ai
semées,
que j’observe la menthe grandir
J’ai de la joie,quand, un instant, la météo
de Paris ressemble à celle de Cayenne,
et que je reconnais l’odeur de la mer,
J’écoute le grésillement de mes vieux
vinyles... J’ai beaucoup de joie
J’ai de la joie lorsque je m’assois après
une journée de travail, comme toi.
J’ai de la joie quand tu me parles
comme ton égal.
I feel joy, in the early morning, when I
see the sun rise as I wake up
and late in the evening when lit windows
parse the dark night
I feel joy, when I pick strawberries that
I’ve sown by my window sill,
when I observe my mint plants grow
I feel joy, when suddenly the weather in
Paris reminds me of that of Cayenne,
and when I recognize the smell of the
sea,
I listen to the crackle sound of my old
vinyls… I feel a lot of joy
I feel a lot of joy when I finally sit after a
long day of work,
like you. I feel a lot of joy when you
speak to me as your equal.
Poem and artwork by Delphine Alphonse
“A simple and quiet life” Mix media (acrylique, watercolor, felt, inlay)
Delphine Alphonse is a painter inspired by the cultural blends of her French Caribbean
roots. Her portraits celebrate black womanhood. Discover them on ayokadeco.com

Elsie Cullen

BLACK JOY AND RESISTANCE
‘‘BLACK JOY
IS
RESISTING
RACISM,
SEXISM
AND
OPPRESSION.’’
Adreinne Waheed
Collage Natalyn Bradshaw

BLACK TWITTER O
RESIST
Black Joy is more than the mere act of laughing an
to a world where Black pain is seen as currency (see
as a fashion statement). Resistance to a biased narr
sadness and grief. Curating and sharing Black joy is
love, beauty, and co
Curated by A

N BLACK JOY AS
ANCE
d enjoying life. Black Joy is resistance. Resistance
the recent spate of luxury brands using black face
ative that paints Black life as one only of trauma,
a way for us to offer another narrative, one where
nnection abound.
lice Gbelia

WHY
YOU
ALL
IN
MY
GRILLZ ?
In Paris, you will see this gold or silver grin on their face.
A selection of the best grillz crafted by Youth Grillz Paris.
Models :
Odilon / @odilon.ngonda by cflgroupmedia
Youssou / @youssouchop
Kimberly / @kimberlyskinny
Grillz by @youth_grillz_worldwide
By Sanaa Carats

My
P resence is my Resistance
Words and Collage By Arya Haliba.
I am a French Black woman, from a modest background and I used to live
in the suburbs. I have been a Parisian for about ten years, I take pleasure in
passing through the heaviest Hausmannian doors, observing the gilding and
mouldings for which France is famous. When I decided to discover the Palace
of Versailles, I was mistaken for an English-speaking tourist. Is it because at
the entrance, the ushers are not used to seeing people like me visiting these
places?
Beauty in all its forms gives me immense joy, I feed off the richness of the
place and walk with my head held high. But now I find myself facing a group of
teenagers uncomfortable in this vastness. It is as if at that very moment I was
shown a part of my story that I forgot with time. My adolescence was far from
these gildings, my head was full of dreams, I didn't know Paris, even though I
was born in the same region I only knew other suburbs.
A young girl stands out from the group and looks at a painting celebrating
Napoleon's battles. In the enemy camp one of the men is Black with coarse,
monstrous features with a cut off head in his hands. I could see the disgust in
this rough diamond girl, her embarrassment when a classmate told her that this
character looked like his father.
She responded to him with humour pointing a man wearing a turban labeling
him a terrorist because of his simple headdress. These seemingly innocuous
jokes reminded me of the difficulties I had in identifying myself in the History
courses at school.
According to the French national education system, or at least from what I
learned, slavery was the only period where Black people were referenced. My
curiosity led me to research all art forms, the history of the Black Pharaohs,
the history of the Malian Empire founded by Soundiata Keita and our more
contemporary history told by Sheikh Anta Diop to name but a few.
However I recognized myself in this little girl at her age: how to build oneself
when the ugly and the negative seems represented by the black color? At the
time of this encounter, I didn't know how to react and I blamed myself. So with
the help of this collage portraying a black aristocrat I want to show this little
girl and all the others that if the blacks have not been positively represented in
the past I am part of this generation aware of its responsibility to represent its
community.
I create in the present with the goal of building a future where our diversity is
sublimated and is part of the standards.
Arya Haliba is a Digital collage maker, documenting her vision through collages and hip-hop lyrics.

THE PARADOX
JOY SOMETIMES GOES BY MANY NAMES. YOU MIGHT CALL IT JOY
OR YOU MIGHT CALL IT HOPE, PURPOSE, HAPPINESS, MOTIVATION,
SATISFACTION, ASSURANCE, BEAUTY, ENLIGHTENMENT, SECURITY,
PASSION, OR SELF-CONTENTMENT. JOY, AND ALL ITS MANY
FORMS, IS A POWERFUL THING. IT CAN FILL ANY EMPTINESS AND
RESTORE THE MOST BROKEN. IT IS FREEDOM FROM ISOLATION
AND PROTECTION FROM DESPERATION. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS
MUCH EASIER TO WANT IT THAN TO HAVE IT.
BY CECIL R. WALKER
ARTWORK: YEKO CREATIVE
OF JOY

However, once it is attained, it’s very well the secret
to escaping hopelessness, depression, self-doubt,
and all those many dark places we sometimes
wander off to. The trick to accessing that secret lies
in realizing that our lives, our understanding, and
every present moment are constantly on a
precipice overlooking a very wide paradox.
The universe is comprised of numerous paradoxes.
In fact, the universe itself is the ultimate paradox.
It’s a vast plain of organized boundlessness all run
by timely chaos. Our lives housed within it are
unpredictable in nature yet summarized by a series
of loops and cycles. In pondering the limitless
domain of reality, we often find ourselves
questioning our own significance and the meaning
in the roles we play. We sometimes slump into
depression and feel too powerless to object to
self-defeating thoughts. We wonder where might
meaning come from and how to find real
satisfaction while failing to see that these things
we’re seeking are just another set of features of the
paradox we live in.
Looking out at a sunset as the evening finishes
painting somber colors in the sky draped behind
the trees and the buildings in sight, we’re
awe-struck and captivated. Yes, there have been
countless sunsets before this, and, just as true,
there are bound to be more to follow. What makes
this particular instance so beautiful and
remarkable is you.
You, now, here in this moment, facing the fading
glow of the sun, deemed this fraction of cosmically
bleak time and space as noteworthy, and so it is.
The universe didn’t hand that meaning to you; you
created it. Likewise, you create all the beauty and
significance you’ll find in your lifetime. You have
the power to grow all these very joyful ingredients
inside yourself. The sun in the sky was nothing
more than a ball of gas spontaneously hurling
through space until someone wrote a poem about
it. The Earth’s greatest mountain tops weren’t
crowned with majesty until someone captured
their royal allure on a canvas.
Your life is but a sequence of mundane actions and
interactions, possibly even mistakes and tragedies,
until you see them as otherwise. We are all fully
aware of the immeasurably small influence we hold
over the universe and all its unending vastness, but
we are absolutely capable of taking our own slice of
that vastness and creating a portrait of the beauty
we’ve longed to see. That’s the joy we’re all waiting
to experience. That’s the shining feeling that
warmly assures us that our problems aren’t
anchoring us but are along for the ride.
The paradox of joy is that while we want it and seek
it so desperately, it cannot exist for us until we
allow it to exist. One of the major dangers in trying
to find joy is when we start to think that it’s
somewhere “out there” or that it is predetermined
and waiting for us. We might mistakenly tell
ourselves that we are destined for a purpose but
must go seek it out, instead of realizing that there is
true meaning to behold right where you are now.
The world is a big place, but significance in life isn’t
to be uncovered; it’s to be acknowledged. Don’t
expect the infinite, paradoxical universe to
personally hand out meaning to any of us. It’s up to
you to take the pieces laid out in front you and
construct that meaning.
Joy isn’t a gift bestowed either justly or randomly;
it’s a state of being that anyone can enter. In
addition to that, it is unconditional. True, lasting
contentment does not rely on easy circumstances.
It can survive confounding difficulties. There is joy
to be had in seeing yourself as humble but capable.
There is joy to be had in accepting your problems as
lessons to be learned. There is an abundance of joy
to be had in recognizing that there is hope yet. If
you feel right now that you are in the midst of one
of your most difficult battles, find joy in pondering
how you’re still standing even with the weight of
your troubles greater than ever before. Joy is being
fully immersed in the understanding that who you
are and where you are is just one step along the
path to whatever you’re pursuing. Whether it’s a
high point or a low point, it’s a point nonetheless in
tracking your progression forward.
We live inside a massive paradox. The future is
never known yet always to be expected. The world
never guaranteed organized logic, yet we tirelessly
try to make sense of it. The infinity of the universe
implies an inclusion of every possibility, yet every
moment we experience is still a statistical anomaly.
The same paradox that might tell us that we’re each
nothing more than a minuscule cog in a machine
too large to be perceived tells us that we all possess
a keen power to transform our situations. When
that power is engaged, we can see beauty, we can
find purpose, and we can acknowledge our joy.
Cecil R. Walker is a therapist based in Atlanta who helps
young people from marginalized communities dealing with
mental health issues. Find him at cecilrwalker.com

MATERIAL
By Sanaa Carats
Just Naf creates accessories in limited editions and stationery based
on traditional Comorian and African fabrics. The brand is based in Paris.
How would you define Black joy?
Black Joy for me is when I share moments of joy with my children, when I hear them laugh and
the fact that I’m able to see them grow and evolve.. Sharing family time and creating memories
is very important to me.
On a personal level, what brings you the most joy on a daily basis?
What brings me the most joy every day is to see my children blossom. Joy is being on this
journey with them and telling me that they will become accomplished adults, God willing.
Your last moment of pure joy?
That was the day, I was featured in Marie-Claire magazine.
And a work (book, painting or song) that best describes Black Joy.
Happy by Pharrell Williams

ONE WORLD, ONE SMILE
Phillip Simpson, founder and owner of
The Baltimore Gallery in Detroit is a
painter and muralist, practicing for over
20 years. Working primarily with acrylic,
spray paint and pencil, Simpson produces
special ‘smile-branded’ paintings, murals
and clothing. Simpson currently resides in
Detroit with his wife and two daughters.
He lives by motto One World, One Smile.
Here Simpson shares with us how art has
changed his life and how he intends to use
his art to help make others around him smile.
“The Smile by Phillip app was created
was created as a way for me to remind
my friends and family to smile. I recently
found out that complete strangers
have downloaded the app and I was
filled with joy. I always thought if I
could just make one person smile
with my art, I’ve done my part. So
helping many smile is a true blessing.
I truly live Black oy everyday. Every
time I touch a blank canvas, a blank
wall. Creating art can be stressful if
you let it. My goal is to put my heart
and joy in each painting, with hopes
of the viewer feeling that joy. Pushing
that positive energy and pushing that
message is a joyful experience in itself.
The real Black joy is every time I see
a smile on my wife and kids faces. My
wife and I have two girls, two Black
girls, two strong creative Black girls
and I want them to know that their
dad makes art for the people and
spreads joy by following his dreams.”
By Sanaa Carats
Artwork by Phillip Simpson

JOY AS SELF CARE
BLACK JOY AS SELF CARE
Collage by Natalyn Bradshaw

How to Cultivate Joy
By Cecil R. Walker
Art by Tunde Omotoye- Available on ayokadeco.com
Know yourself.
You are not fear. You are not anger. You are not sadness. You are not anxiety.
If you lift those things away from you, who is left? Get to know who you are
underneath those distractions, magnify that person and you will find joy.
Be kind to yourself.
The voice you’ll hear most often is likely your own, so let it be a kind one.
Forgive your mistakes. Compliment yourself. Be the warm, affirming, and kind
voice you’d be happy to always have close by.
Invest in yourself.
There’s only one you, so it’s worth it to try to make it the best you possible.
Enhance your strengths. Spread that generosity you’re known for. Spend time
building on what’s valuable about yourself.
Accept imperfection as the norm.
Mistakes are to be expected. Bad days are guaranteed to come. Rarely will
things turn out perfectly, so don’t ask that perfection of yourself or of your
circumstances.
Take breaks from worrying.
It probably feels like you really need to think through all your concerning,
potential problems and their impending consequences. It’s okay to give your
mind some rest. Set your worries aside for at least a moment and be present
right now.
Be patient with yourself.
Nearly everything worth having takes time, and nearly everything gained
instantly can be lost just as quickly; this applies to happiness as well. Find
satisfaction in the smallest of signs that things are better today than yesterday.

By Sanaa Carats
Illustration by La Cerise Electrique

Axelle Jah Njiké is a writer, entrepreneur,
feminist and activist fighting against female
genital mutilation. Axelle tells us how why Black
women should talk more about sex, intimacy
and the joy it gives.
What inspired you to create the podcast Me My Sexe and I®?
I personally deplore the fact that our voices are only heard when the media
needs a commentary on racism, discrimination, violence and lack of inclusion.
We are rarely asked to discuss everyday topics, emotions, feelings or intimacy.
I wanted to create a platform centred on our life stories. I wanted to offer other
Black women a chance to hear and see themselves. I thought the world needed
to hear about the diversity and singularity of our experiences. I’ve always been
the chick who talked about sexuality and intimacy issues with her friends, or
on social media. My interest in these topics made of lot of men and women in
our French-African community uncomfortable. I find that people in the Englishspeaking
world mure more open when it comes to discussing intimacy. The web
series of South African actress and director Mmabatho Montsho, «Women on
Sex» is a perfect example. I talked about it in my network when it came out but
people didn’t seem interested, even though it was really great!
So in my own way, I’m helping Black women in the French community express
themselves and talk more freely about sex and intimacy.
Maya Angelou my greatest source of inspiration as an individual, a woman, and
an artist. I was also inspired by the work of Awa Thiam, author of «La parole aux
négresses» about the intimate lives of French-speaking Black women. It’s not
well-know but I consider it as one of the seminal books in French Afro-feminism.
Tarana Burke, who created the hashtag MeToo was another person who inspired
me. I knew from experience that the topic was a problem in our Afro communities.
Very few Black French-speaking women had joined the conversation happening
online. Yet, in private, there was a flood of confessions but very little was made
public. I decided to do something about it. I decided to talk to Black women.
What I had always seen was that conversations around sex and intimacy never
seemed to include people who looked like me. I wanted to change that.

You’re taking this even further with your campaign “It’s not Bretzel” about…
the clitoris. Tell us more!
The campaign is meant to educate people about the anatomy of the clitoris. More
than 25% of young girls in France don’t know that that they have a clitoris! And
83% of 15-year-old girls don’t know anything about its unique erogenous function.
We want to end this sexual illiteracy, starting with a petition to the Ministry of
Education and Youth to make sure that our little mount of pleasure is properly
illustrated in biology and anatomy books. The campaign will be followed in April
by the release of a documentary that is particularly close to my heart, Female
Pleasure. Directed by Swiss director Barbara Miller. It follows five women - living
in the US, India, Japan, England and Germany. The film shows their fight to stop
sexual violence against women and how they encourage women to reclaim and
embrace their sexualit. I’m lucky to be one of the film’s ambassadors in France.
In 2015, you contributed to Volcaniques, a collection of essays about sex and
pleasure written by 12 women. How did that come about?
It was Léonora Miano who asked to me to contribute to Volcaniques. She knew
that I was interested in issues around intimacy, sexuality and female pleasure. I
was a bit reluctant at first but you don’t say no to Leonora Miano. I’m glad I said yes
and took that risk. It allowed me to engage in very personal conversations with
women and also men. I’m grateful for the trust they put in me. The book was very
well received and four years after it was published, people are still discovering it
and talking about it. Volcanique actually also gave me the idea for my podcast.
How do you define Black Joy?
I don’t label my joy that way. I had to build it from scratch, when I was a child
and then a teenager because I was living in an environment that was not really
conducive to joy. I don’t associate joy with my cultural affiliation. Especially since
the trauma I went through at that time was inflicted by people who had the same
skin colour as me. My joy is my own, it is not «Black”. I partly inherited it from my
father, who always had a real “joie de vivre”, and I hope to have passed this on to
own my daughter.
On a personal level, what brings you the most joy on a daily basis?
Writing things that make sense to me. And through my work, to have the
opportunity to influence others in a positive way.
When was the last time you felt real joy?
After having a delightful discussion with my daughter Margaux about romantic
relationships. I tried to make her understand that she has agency. I feel like I
made a good job of it.
A song that represents Black Joy?
Golden by Jill Scott.

Mood by Sex N Sandwiches

IT TOOK ME SOME TIME
It took me a long time to get here, but I finally made it happen.
Yes, it took me quite some time to accept the idea that I was enuf and that I mattered the most.
It took me a moment to allow myself to say no, to understand that it was ok to cancel plans with friends, ok not
to go out to bars and restaurants, ok not to enjoy a sunny day when everybody else was.
Oh it took me some time to voice it out loud, and acknowledge the fact that I enjoyed being alone.
I used to find excuses, lies and all, because I felt pressured to justify my choice; and then it hit me. I just don’t
have to.
“No” is an answer; no is enuf of a reason.
But don’t get me wrong, I love my folks, oh I love them friends and family of mine; but God I love me most.
I learned to take care of myself, spiritually and physically, and be better emotionally. I soaked up the idea that
joy could be found in simple things; it was that simple, but I didn’t know.
I discovered that the smell of coconut oil on my skin was the best perfume I had on.
I found nourishment in doing my hair, finger coiling, twisting, braiding, picking the afro; what a dance, oh
what a dance.
I fancy my own company; and find peace in solitude, in silence.
I am no longer afraid of silences, in my head, or around me; because they were more than just that, silences; they
were sounds of me figuring out who I was.
Making time for myself became my motivation; because beyond time, there was “me”, the me I wanted to be,
the me I knew I could be.
So “me” and I started going out together, shopping, out in restaurants; me and I took dance classes, practiced
yoga, sang louder than I used to do; me and I became friends, so I could enjoy myself.
Joy started to make herself at home in my life, so I baptized her, and gave her several names. Joy was the smell
and the sound of sweet plantains grilling in the fryer. Joy had the color of a dark bedroom where the sun was not
allowed because you liked being in the dark.
Joy enabled you to pray, to concentrate on feeding your mind and resting your soul, to explore the depth of your
identity and dive into yourself.
Joy had the voice of loud music in a small apartment.
Joy was the caress of a hot and long shower that you could really appreciate. Joy named loneliness.
Simple things, that you never noticed before, since you did not know that simplicity was greatness. You finally
opened your eyes on them, opened your mind on yourself, and learn how to value time.
So you started laughing loudly, unapologetically.
You were glowing, your skin reflecting the goddess in you.
You wore your kinky crown proudly, no longer afraid they would snatch it off your head, breaking its volume
and damaging its length.
You loved the reflection in the mirror, naked or dressed, you could from now on look at it, without wishing to
change, transform or replace it.
Your thighs were ok. Your breasts were ok. Your body was ok and your complexion was perfect.
You were more than ok, you were perfectly ok.
Because you finally opened your eyes on your beauty, on your self, you started loving who you were, you started
being Black and very much proud.
Take time to celebrate that. Take a moment to heal from the rest. Take the matter into your own two hands. And
acknowledge that time spent with yourself is never times wasted, companionship is not a purpose and seeking it
is worthless.
You accept now to be alone, and do not necessarily link that feeling of freedom to the worry of later be
unwanted or disliked.
You have no cravings to urge any longer, no worries to nourish, no pain to care for. Get rid of the issues you
internalized and seek yourself in being by yourself, focus on finding your passion and achieving your goals.
The answers are in your spirit.
Meditate.
Self care.
Isolate.
Appreciate.
It took me some time, to meet you. To be you.
In all the glory of your joyful energy.
-Mademoiselle Danie Mav
Art by TEDA -Find more of his work on ayokadeco.com

#BLACKG
Issa Rae by Karis Richards /@karisrillustrations

IRLJOY
We
celebrate Black Joy everyday on our website.
www.ayokadeco.com
Harmony by Rahana Banana@rahanabanana

By Saira Rootsycom
Poster: Nadina Ali
Illustration: Ronie Charles

What b
My kids... I know it's kind of boring when people say that... But it's so true...-
@myboxafro
Joy is everytime I get the chance to discover new things! Especially while
travelling. I love the new, unforseen and also unexpected joy it brings me. It is a
boost for evolving and discovering oneself! Art, especially music, brings me joy.
Concerts are like travels to me as they're never the same experience! Long chats
with my creative fellas bring me joy too! - @33caratswebzine
Sisterhood - @deenadeeee
What brings me joy is the current process of creating content around Black Joy
with @ayokadeco ! It does bring me joy to discover new artists and
understanding their creative process
around this theme! Good, sweet food with family and close ones bring me joy
too! - @sanaapinyourarea
Real friends - @imane14
Working with amazing Black entrepreneurs who are launching & running
businesses that are positively changing the world we live in - @ukjamiii
An early sunrise, a smile on the face of someone you don't know but who is
smiling back at you, the music of the rain, a well spent afternoon
with friends or family around a barbecue, the laugh of my daughters, a fresh
breeze during a hot summer day... - @jolitropisme
I feel most joy when I feel on top of everything - I juggle a lot and like feeling
pushed to the max, but it is SUCH a joyful feeling when I'm actually managing it
all! I can smile and saythat I'm doing the best I can do - @line_and_honey
Great music, travelling to warm places, amazing food, long conversations of total
nuttiness that gives your belly a workout. I love dancing, finding a great book and
a snug hiding place to read it and loving hugs from my baby nephews. -
@shineoutloudshow

ings you joy ?
What brings me joy? It’s hard to say one thing in particular. Of course moments
with my family and dear friends. Being surrounded by beauty brings me joy also
: art, flowers, design, etc.- @arya_ha
Beauty in all its forms (in people, fashion, design, art, nature) brings me immense joy -
@aliiice_g
The smell of good food, floating clouds on sunny days, my kids' laughter,
conversations with my oldest son, holding my husband's hand, a really good red
bean or taro bubble tea,coffee dates, good music, memories that I wish I could
relive, painting, looking at and taking pictures, among other things -
@npbradshaw
Laughing, dancing, singing & celebrating with family, friends and like-minded
people. Helping others - @Bossmatcher
It sounds cliche but being surrounded by people I love (family or friends), it's
such a bliss. - @sairarootsycom
Creativity & DIY - @bawuanabora
Being with the people I love, eat good food, read, write, music - @Lilimi_B
Thank you for all your answers !*
*Survey from Ayoka Instagram account : @ayokadeco

NADINA ALI
Discover the artist behind the Black joy posters in our zine.
Nadina Ali is the French-Comorian designer behind Nadina
Did This. She moved from her native Marseille to Manchester
to study clothing design and after graduating, worked in the
fashion industry for a few years. Nadina recently decided to
channel her creativity and keen interest in graphic design into
designing colourful graphics with a focus on lettering and
typography. A lover of pop art, pop culture and bold colours,
she incorporates those elements into her designs combining
them with positive and optimistic messages.
What brings you joy?
Colour! Having lived in Manchester for many years, I have
developed a constant craving for all things colourful.
Where do you find joy?
I find joy in creating. Bringing an idea to life is always a special
moment for me.
When was the last time you felt real joy?
When I went to see Corita Kent’s Power Up exhibition at the
House of Illustration in London. I found the way she used bright
colours and typography to create strong visuals tackling a variety
of topics such as religious beliefs, activism and everyday life very
powerful and inspiring.

People by TEDA