‘The picture is a name to honour our roots’: Reginald Kofi Boateng’s greatest cellphone picture | Images

Reginald Kofi Boateng had spent his morning scouting the proper location and gathering props. “The day was steeped with intention,” says Boateng, who comes from Koforidua, in jap Ghana and now lives in Dansoman, within the capital, Accra.

“Dansoman is a sprawling property and a place of contrasts,” he says. “Tales are ready to be uncovered in its bustling streets and quiet corners. This setting grew to become the proper backdrop to discover themes of identification, heritage and individuality.”

The mannequin is Joshua Adjei, then 23. Boateng, who styled Adjei, says, “The afro comb, or ‘choose’, is a highly effective emblem of African delight and heritage. Its roots hint again to historic African civilisations, the place it represented grooming, self-expression and sweetness. Right here the comb turns into a crown: an emblem of empowerment, a nod to ancestral traditions and a celebration of the pure fantastic thing about afro-textured hair.”

Within the modifying course of, he used Picsart and Lightroom, and says “the surreal tones of inexperienced sky and purple floor have been designed to evoke a dreamlike high quality. The picture is a name to honour our roots whereas boldly entering into the future.”