Movement, Migration and the Making of Art

Baba Shabu at his 2019 exhibit. Shabu @ 90 years old.

In today's newsletter, B4 wishes to focus on the work of painter Baba Shabu. The work of Baba has touched many hearts in Liberia. The impact that Baba has on the people of Liberia as well as those in the United States is contagious as he spreads his love of art to all. As a result of his impact on so many lives, B4 interviewed International Educator and Executive Creative Director, Marcelle G. Yhap; and B4 Graphic Designer and Choreographer, Elliott Tryshawn Jones; who offer their reflections on what Baba Shabu's art means to them. This newsletter also includes an analysis of Baba Shabu's creative process. 

Mama and Baba Shabu (90yrs/old) with Marcelle at art exhibit.

Mohammad made the shirt Marcelle is wearing (called the balance symbol)

Marcelle G. Yhap

Marcelle is an experienced Executive Creative Director and an international educator. She has known Baba Shabu all her life, as her family and his family were neighbors. Marcelle then reconnected with Baba in 2015. Baba helped her understand the meaning of arts, the process, and its relationship to the broader world. Baba, as well as Mama Shabu, encouraged Marcelle to pursue her artistic pursuits. Marcelle felt it was essential to highlight Mama Shabu, since Mama had an important influence on Marcelle's life as well. Mama and Baba are one and both work in a rhythmic way.  

Marcelle takes us through the memory of Baba losing his eyesight. "Baba always appreciated the beauty that surrounded him (that comes from him being an artist). He enjoyed seeing everyone dressed nicely because it is an expression of art and he would always compliment them. During the process of Baba losing his eyesight, it became a tradition for Baba that he would then ask "what are you wearing today?" and the family would describe the pattern and design in detail (Marcelle G. Yhap, Personal Interview, June 28, 2022). As an artist, Marcelle felt humbled to witness Baba going through that process; it made her feel "present in the moment" and enhanced her appreciation of life (Marcelle G. Yhap, personal interview, June 28, 2022).

Elliott Tryshawn Jones 

Elliott is an artist, graphic designer, choreographer, and minister of arts. He is currently the choreographer and graphic designer of B4 Youth Theatre. He discovered his love for modern dance at 10. Elliott started dance training with an arts after-school program for underprivileged youth in New Jersey called Art Matters. By 16, he was already a professional dancer. For Elliott dance is spiritual and it is his "favorite way of connecting with God."

Mr. Jones met Babu Shabu in Liberia, West Africa 2019 when he traveled with B4 Youth Theatre as an arts mentor and choreographer. He attended Baba's art class and art exhibit. He also attended Baba's 90th birthday celebration. It was a beautiful experience. 

Elliott participated in Baba Shabu's class on mapping. It is a concept where students drew the community they lived in. During the class, they also discussed logos and symbols. Elliott's favorite symbol was a spiral-shaped circle that symbolizes "home". Elliott created a dance movement for this symbol which will be performed in the "200 Years of Returns" show. As you will see later, the symbol is also on the cloth the dancers will use for their performance.

Elliott believes ART is everywhere, and his class with Baba Shabu affirmed this concept.  He learned that art is a process, it is important to have a foundation. Additionally, he discovered his love for being a part of the design process; from brainstorming to sketching; from concept to execution. Elliott describes Baba Shabu's arts as "abstract storytelling through a pan-African lens".

Baba Shabu with Elliott

An Analysis of Baba Shabu's Creative Process:

Mama and Baba Shabu with Mohammad

Mohammad S. Bah

The artist behind the creative designs is Mohammad S. Bah. As stated previously, he did all of the tie dye work that you see presented in this newsletter, with the assistance of Marcelle G. Yhap and others, who helped him generate ideas on how to proceed. He is a Liberian tailor and has been doing tie dyeing work for a few years.

Mohammad was encouraged to do tie dyeing by the owner of a store in Atlanta called Bombshell, and this young lady encouraged him to dive further into the tie dyeing field. The meeting of Mohammad and Baba Shabu, who was a textile designer, further influenced his interest in tie dyeing as Baba also assisted him in honing his skills in tie dyeing.

The Process for Creating the Cloth Used for "200 Years of Returns":

Baba Shabu, Mohammad, Marcelle, B4 Youth Founder Jasmine, and others designed a special cloth that was sewn as skirts for the dancers for the upcoming "200 Years of Returns" show. The links below show you a sneak peek of how the cloth was created. The red dye is poured on the cloth to form a river flow. There is a specific technique used to adjust the material to form this design. After adding the dye, the cloth is rinsed with water and hung out to dry. Later, Baba's special design stamp is dipped in wax and stamped on the cloth. The design is completed by folding the cloth and placing it in blue dye.

Watch the video to see red dye being applied to the river flow

The finished product: Cloth used for dancers' skirts

Meaning of the Stamp

B4 Youth Founder, Jasmine Blanks Jones remembers MaBa (Mama and Baba) explaining that healing and repairing harm requires that humans gather forming circles. Drawing on Baba's circle study and series of work, Dr. Blanks Jones requested the home symbol to mark the cycle of returns necessary for the global Africa community to come together and heal.

Meaning of the Colors

The red, white, and blue color used represents the colonization of Liberia by the United States. 

Upcoming Shows

This weekend! On July 2, 2022, from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm, a team of five actors from B4 Youth Theatre in Liberia will share the stage with actors from CW Virginia at Hennage Auditorium in the Colonial Williamsburg Arts Museum to commemorate the “200 Years of Returns” anniversary (Learn more about '200 Years of Returns.').

July 26

See 200 Years of Returns at our Returns and Remembrance: Diaspora Homecoming on July 26 (Liberian Independence Day) at Bloomberg Hall on Johns Hopkins University's Homewood Campus at 6 pm with special guest Colombian band Kombilesa Mi, co-hosted with African Diaspora Alliance. In partnership with Inheritance Baltimore: B4 Youth Theatre
African Diaspora Alliance, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies, Billie Holiday Center for Liberation Arts, Slavery & Justice Conference, Program in Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship, Johns Hopkins University Museums. Come join us as we celebrate this historic event.

Kindly donate to support the B4YT Liberia team with the activities in the United States. Every member of the team is confident about the upcoming events. Each person is looking forward to the lessons and experience to share with their colleagues upon return to Liberia, West Africa.