When Teju first pitched the idea of this residency to me, I was overjoyed! The opportunity to create work inspired by Demas Nwoko, one of my key inspirations, felt specifically tailored to me.

I explored the New Culture Studio archives, and began developing a typeface based on the original New Culture Magazine designs.

I embraced Natural Synthesis—studying traditional art forms from my native culture to incorporate their techniques and motifs into contemporary practice.

I chose African masks as reference points, as they span multiple ethnic groups, reflecting New Culture's Pan-African ethos. The Ojuju typeface draws from similar inspiration and is worth checking out.

This is a first-time typeface creation and there’s definitely room for improvement, but the shapes look like the forms you would achieve when carving wood, which is the intended effect.

I'm grateful for this residency experience and excited to share my first display font with everyone. More to come!