KUNLE ADEWALE, I SEE A NEW AFRICA

Kunle Adewale, a Mandela Washington Fellow and the Founder of Tender Arts Nigeria, shared this piece of art created during his Institute at Tulane University, New Orleans. He shares that "I believe strongly that the knowledge and skills we have acquired as Mandela Washington Fellows for 2015 will strengthen young leaders in Africa to take Africa to the next level. We will deploy new methods in addressing Africa's present and future challenges. #YALI2015 has giving us new momentum to rise as Young African leaders...I see a New Africa on the move." 

KUNLE ADEWALE INTERVIEW WITH VOICE OF AMERICA, VIDEO LINK

KUNLE ADEWALE INTERVIEW WITH VOA

VOA's Vincent Makori talks to Kunle Adewale, a young Africa leader from Nigeria and also a Mandela Washington Fellow. Kunle has created two works of art, which will become part of the future State Department Diplomacy Center.

KUNLE ADEWALE RECOGNIZED BY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON D.C

Kunle Adewale was recognized for his civic engagement through arts in Nigeria. Far left is the Deputy Director  Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Christine Kreamer and Dr. Amy Staple the Director of the Archives, Smithsonian Institution. Kunle was commended for his artistic impacts in the lives of vulnerable children and young adults through Art Therapy program. This includes: children and young people with Sickle Cell Disorder and those who are living with cancer in Nigeria. 

 

KUNLE ADEWALE @ VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON D.C

Kunle Adewale, 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow  and a Young African leader from Nigeria was interviewed by Vincent Makori on Africa 54 @ Voice of America Washington D.C

KUNLE ADEWALE AT WORK

Kunle Adewale at work in Lagos Nigeria. He has penchant of Acrylic material because of its brilliance appearance and the fast-drying method. Here He paint

ed two art piece. One titled #Africa4Her and the second #AfricaIsOnTheMove #YesWeCan 

The Painting #Africa4Here is:

Size: 2X2.5fts, Medium; Acrylic on Canvas , Date: April 2015

“When Girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” 
                                        -U S First Lady, Michelle Obama

The painting above is a picture of a young African woman enclosed in a light bulb. The bulb is at the center of an opened book which has the colors of the flag of the United States of America and colors of flags of other African countries. The painting titled “Africa4Her” shows empowerment for the African woman which comes through investment in education. The American flag represents the support the African women and girls enjoy. The bulb and the opened book show boundless opportunities accessible to the African woman.  Opportunities like education, equal rights, gender equality, dignity, self-acceptance, self-discovery, self-esteemed, building of life skills, participation in leadership roles in the community, right to security and successful career. The dark part of the painting shows the challenges the girl-child  and African women go through like rape, molestation,abduction, oppression, insecurity, intimidation, domestic abuse, violence, early marriage, lack of education, hard labour, slavery and gender discrimination among many others to mention but a few. The young woman in the light bulb is an emergence of true picture of the African woman, an innovator, change maker, elegant, intelligent, graceful and beautiful.The African woman is a full of potentials, a carrier of light, possessor of hope and a world changer. “Africa4Her exemplifies that the African woman is an embodiment of ideas, innovation and power. She is no longer intimidated or dominated by the darkness around her and her presence brings restoration to the ruin in her society. The empowered African woman is an inspiration to the world, an indispensable asset to the global community. She is a phenomenal woman.

Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

President Barrack Obama, of the United States at the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 said “The future must not belong to those who bully women. It must be shaped by those who go to school and those who stand for a world where our daughters can live their dreams just like our sons”.

Size: 2X3fts, Medium; Oil on Canvas , Date: March 2015, 

The above picture is painting which shows two hands. The one by the right hand is painted in the colours of the United States of American  while the other one by the left is painted in the colours of different African countries. At the center of the painting is a globe with emphasis on the map of Africa with spotted Yellow colours while The United States flag is seen at the center of the African map on the globe. The hand with the colors of the American flag is seen handing over a golden colored baton to the hands with colors of  different African countries.

“Yes We Can” is an illustration of the American government’s investment in the African continent’. The golden baton represents leadership, entrepreneurial skills, good governance, security, peace amongst many other benefits that YALI is offering Young African Leaders. It shows how much President Obama believes in the future of the African youths.  And most importantly , it is depicts the collaboration between United States of America and Africa which has brought lots of socio-economic development to Africa. The U.S President Barrack Obama once said” We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it”. The dark green background shows prosperity and development that comes through YALI.

The American flag at the center of Africa’s map shows the presence of the United States of America across the face of Africa continent while the spotted Yellow colour shows the speedy impacts YALI is making in Africa since the beginning of the vision till date. I believe the promise of a better future that Africa seek is here through the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Irrespective of our religion, cultural values and diversity of ethnicity, we are one winning team on the road to stardom; we are unstoppable!   YES WE CAN! YALI WE CAN!

KUNLE ADEWALE ART PRESENTATION AT THE U. S STATE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON D.C

Kunle Adewale Made two art presentation at the U. S State Department in Washington D.C on the 26th of August. The two master piece is will be part of the U. S State Department future Diplomacy Center. He spoke about his Civic engagement through Arts In Nigeria. 

KUNLE ADEWALE PLEDGE #Africa4Her

We asked some of the many YALI Network members who in March made an #Africa4Her pledge to invest in women and girls in their community how they have fulfilled that pledge. Here is Olakunle Adewale’sstory.

I have started work on my pledge by making an art piece that calls for action by all professionals to invest in girls and women in Africa.

I pledged to invest in young women and girls in Africa using a creative approach that can help improve the outcome of their lives. This will be achieved through art workshops which will be facilitated by volunteer professionals in the field of visual arts in Nigeria.

The products of these workshops will be exhibited on various media platforms — social media, digital media, and electronic and print media. Finally, the works will be exhibited for sale while a percentage of the income generated will be given to the girls and women who produced the works. The participants will also have the privilege of being mentored by professionals during and after the program.

The painting is a picture of a young African woman enclosed in a light bulb. The bulb is at the center of an opened book which has the colors of the flag of the United States of America and colors of flags of other African countries. The painting titled Africa4Her shows empowerment for the African woman through investment in education.

I believe professionals should lend support to the female folks who sometimes do not have the opportunities of being empowered like their male counterparts. I feel obligated to help in educating and empowering the girl child as an artist. It is important to create a just society where there is equality in opportunity for men and women, boys and girls.

I have been a volunteer for more than a decade working with nonprofits through community and civic engagement. In the past five years, I have mobilized more than 500 young professionals who volunteered at nonprofit organizations. I have learned about the power of collaboration and teamwork if one is going to make an indelible mark! It has also birthed in me the joy and fulfillment of contributing my quota in making the world a better place.

I volunteered to fill the space and vacuum in my community by engaging my leadership skills in ensuring a better world for everyone that lives within my reach.  Everyone is endowed with an ability to innovate, associate, create and cultivate something that would be of great benefit to the world.  Most importantly, being a visual artist and educator, I believe art can be used for community development and civic engagement by educating and empowering people around me. I feel i’m a indebted to my society, thus i have an obligation to perform and take responsibility for the development of my environment.

For me, service more of a life style than the gift of service to humanity. It is better to serve than to be served. … I grow when I sow seeds of greatness into the lives people around me by providing opportunities and platforms where they can increase in knowledge and skill acquisition. 

It is best to be a servant leader because it attracts more reward in this world and the world to come. The experience has taught me empathy, compassion, respect for humanity and increased passion in my pursuit of making the world a better place.  Leadership is space — not just a place to occupy but a place to multiply people.

Nigerian artist Olakunle Adewale displays the painting he named Africa4Her.

This experience will make me a better leader because everyone matters, irrespective of their gender, class, tribe or race. So there is equal opportunity for development and empowerment.

More so, the need for partnership and collaboration with people in the community, community leaders and other organizations are good ways to achieve greatness and collective success. It will give me more opportunity to learn from partner organization in my campaign and advocate in fulfillment of my pledge to invest in women and girls in Africa.

More than 1,000 YALI Network members made an #Africa4Her pledge. They represent 47 countries, and 54 percent of them are men.KUNLE ADEWALE PLEDGE #Africa4Her