Photograph by

Brathwaite, Kwame, American, 1938 - 2023

Subject of

Abu, Jimmy, American

Lumumba, Patrice Émery, Congolese, 1925 - 1961

African Jazz-Arts Society and Studios, American, founded 1956

Date

ca. 1963; printed 2019

Medium

pigment on paper (fiber product)

Dimensions

H x W: 15 × 15 in. (38.1 × 38.1 cm)

Description

A black-and-white photograph of Jimmy Abu, member of the African Jazz-Art Society and Studio (AJASS), in the Harlem apartment of Elombe Brath and Kwame Brathwaite. The photograph depicts Abu from the knees up, standing in three-quarters pose with his body turned towards the left edge of the photograph, and his head turned towards the viewer. He is standing just right of center, wearing a woven wedge cap, a white dashiki shirt, and a medium tone, embroidered agbada robe. He is holding an open book with his proper left hand. The book has a photograph of Patrice Émery Lumumba on the front and white text that reads [PATRICE / LUMUMBA / CONGO MY COUNTRY]. He is holding a white fly-whisk in his proper right hand at waist level. In the background is a tall wooden bookcase. There are no inscriptions, front or back.

Place captured

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Classification

Photographs and Still Images

Movement

Pan Africanism

Black is Beautiful

BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)

Type

portraits

inkjet prints

Topic

African diaspora

Associations and institutions

Black power

Decolonization

Fashion

International affairs

Photography

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2021.26.7

Restrictions & Rights

Courtesy of the Kwame Brathwaite Archive & Philip Martin Gallery, © Kwame Brathwaite

Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a1cb5787-b143-4068-ac99-dbf51a39bf6f