The Lost Identity

A Visual Awakening

“Do we remember who we were before the world told us who to be?”

This profound question that lies at the heart of The Lost Identity, the first piece in my new Awakening series. It is an invitation to confront the silence that often surrounds Africa’s stolen roots, repressed heritage and fragmented identity. In this artwork, I seek to awaken not just memories but the very essence of self.

The Lost Identity
KennyDanielArt

On this piece is an African woman, not adorned with traditional symbols of wealth or power but burdened with a crown of cracked earth. This crown, heavy and crumbling, symbolizes the lost kingdoms, the erasure of thriving pre-colonial civilizations and the generations of Africans who have been taught to forget their true identities. The cracked earth represents more than physical dryness; it signifies a spiritual severance from the land and heritage.

She sits on a wooden chair, worn with time, its surface splintered and scarred, much like the backs of our ancestors who bore the literal and symbolic weight of chains. By her hands lie rusted shackles, whispering of captivity but also of liberation. Her posture is one of quiet resilience; she sits with dignity, her gaze unyielding. She is not free from the past but she is rooted in it, carrying it with honor and not shame.

Her garment is white, unblemished, representing purity and the uncorrupted truth that lies beneath centuries of rewritten history, forced religion, economic exploitation and cultural theft. This white robe does not erase the pain; it dignifies it, holding space for both the suffering and the beauty that has emerged from it.

This piece is where realism meets metaphor, beauty meets pain and history meets dignity. The drawing is hyper-detailed, not merely for aesthetic pleasure but to remind us that every wrinkle, scar and fold has a story.

Honoring Erased Civilizations

Before the shadows of colonization fell upon Africa, the continent was illuminated by the brilliance of its empires. The Benin Kingdom, with its sophisticated governance and exquisite bronze artistry; Great Zimbabwe, a monumental stone city that defied colonial stereotypes; and the Mali Empire, home to Timbuktu, one of the most important centers of learning in medieval history. These are but a few examples of Africa’s rich tapestry of civilization.

Many of these legacies were violently interrupted by European conquest, their artifacts looted and scattered across Western museums. The Benin Bronzes, for instance, remain a contentious symbol of this theft. However, in recent years, there has been significant progress in their repatriation. In June 2025, the Netherlands returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, marking one of the largest single returns of these artifacts. This event underscores the growing global movement towards restitution and the acknowledgment of historical injustices.

As Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford, art historian and presenter of the BBC’s Lost Kingdoms of Africa, explains: “Africa’s history was never lost, it was hidden, suppressed and denied.” The Lost Identity is part of the effort to unveil and honor these hidden histories.

In Dialogue with Contemporary Art

This piece also engages with a broader artistic movement. Artists like Otobong Nkanga, who explores the ecological and cultural scars left by colonial extraction, also Yinka Shonibare, who reappropriates Victorian fabrics to challenge historical narratives, inspire my own work. Through photorealistic pencil drawings, I aim to create images that are not only visually striking but also intellectually and emotionally provocative, compelling viewers to confront and reconsider their understanding of African identity.

A Mirror to Our Collective Memory

The Lost Identity is more than a portrait; it is a mirror reflecting our collective memory. It poses critical questions: What have we forgotten? Who decided which parts of our history were worth remembering? And what will it take to unlearn the narratives imposed upon us? For me, art is a form of remembrance and resistance. It is a way to trace our spiritual umbilical cord back to the soil, the kingdoms, the people, the gods and the truths that birthed us.

In this artwork, every detail tells a story: the cracked earth crown speaks of a fractured past, the wooden chair of enduring strength, the rusted shackles of a history that cannot be ignored, and the white garment of an untarnished spirit. Together, they form a narrative of resilience, dignity and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Medium: Graphite, Charcoal & Colored Pencil on Paper

Size: 24x30 inches

Year: 2025

This is just the beginning of the Awakening Series, a visual journey towards resurrecting memory, culture and soul. I invite you to join me in this exploration, to look deeply, to remember and to awaken. Let me hear your thoughts in the comments.🌱