Philosophy of Pan Africanism through the eye of visual artist Farook Mahommed

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTYS Editor

I am sure right now that many will agree that the world is going Right Wing in many respects.  This obviously makes many people uncomfortable as we seem to be going two steps forward and three steps backwards in human transformation and progress. What about nationalism and ethnic consciousness that is raising its hand on the continen and else where in the world?

It therefore becomes intriguing but understandable when there is an artist who seems to be going against the trend. Have not artists done this in the history of human kind? One such artist is Farook Mahommed, who just had an exhibition in the Eastern Cape a solo exhibition which was part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Arts Festival.  The exhibition was titled True Pan-Africanism – A look into the future of Africa. It closed on Friday last week.

You see, Farook still believes very much in the idea of Pan Africanism, complete with its own common  currency,  and how all the cultural practices,  including embracing ancestral beliefs and other religious practices  introduced to the continent over the years, such as Arabic Culture  and Christianity over many years can co-exist in harmony.

He also believes how the Pan Africanism philosophy is potent in uniting a divided continent, a divided people, especially If it harnesses all its diversity in cultural practices, customs and religion into a common understanding that we are in it together as diverse people living on this continent. 

This way he beives we can have the capcity to move forward and therefore move the continent and its people forward. Here is the issue:  Africa is one diverse continent that has been a host to the whole world, and forget for a moment about it being the origin of mankind that is the mother to the whole world and think of it in modern terms as a mother to diverse communities with different cultural practices gleaned from diverse historical experiences and how that could be harnessed for the common good of the people living on the continent.

This seems to be the gist of his narrative in his recently ended exhibition. His exhibition, which just ended at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Museum in the Eastern Cape speaks to this idea. He has been speaking to CITYLIFE/ARTS about this idea for sometime now, and it eventually happened, endorsed by none other than the Royal Namba Family in that region.

And the following is what the artist says about this exhibition: “Many of us reflect on the past but our focus must shift to the future and we need to paint an accurate picture of what that future looks like without excluding any of our.

Africa is diverse, it’s beautiful and it plays a major role in what the future of the world will look like. As artists we tend to forget the power we hold in our hands. I’m inspired by the Concepts of Ubuntu (Ukhwah in Arabic) meaning unity, humanness and brotherhood. The worksI’ve produced and the stories  behind them have a great importance. I make Art for the future and to leave a legacy behind. I bridge the gap between the North and the South of Africa by combining our beautifully diverse culturalexpressions as one.

 My work is influenced by world history, my own diverse family background “spanning continents”, and is also influenced by my physical surroundings and global events affecting us all (some of my works are a bit controversial and it adds some fun and spice for Art collectors who buy my works with the aim of making a buck or two or simply because they love and appreciate my creative expression), I am Afro-Arab increativity.

About the artist

Farook Mohammed is an Award-winning Contemporary Visual Artist from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Farook primarily focuses on the creation of Pan-Africanist Artworks; some of his works are in the collections of

South African Royal Families as well as world renowned local entertainers. The artworks are inspired by the Concepts of Ubuntu (Ukhwah in Arabic) meaning unity, humanness and brotherhood.

Apart from this he also delves into works that deal with climate change, science and political satire. Farook has been featured in a variety of news media, magazine publications, online industry talk shows; both local and international and he managed to become an industry influencer in the Art Market.

As an Artist, Farook aims to inspire, motivate and bring about social change through the power of Art and the stories behind them.