“So I had the picture laying around for some time, I just had to get over a personal limit of painting someone that is so close to me. I focused a lot on her eyes. I wanted them to be very vivid. And not much else is happening in the painting, it is very simple. The background is very clean. I think of it as being a vulnerable moment, but a strong portrait.

I chose this portrait because it is so personal to me; taking a person that is so close and having to reproduce them in a way that she can recognize herself but also in the way that I see her.

As an artist you have to consider the colors, nuances, shadows, the light and they all have to interplay with each other for it to make sense; which is why it becomes such a vulnerable and honest moment."

"In relation to the black love theme, we are both Danes mixed with some African roots. She is also half Cameroonian and I am also half Nigerian. Us having these different backgrounds made it easier for us to relate to each other. There are a lot of things that we don’t have to explain or convince each other of, because we both have an understanding of our cultural backgrounds; us having a whole African family that we aren’t close to and also both being a mix of two ethnicities and living in Denmark. It is nice to have someone who just understands you, and also in the future when we have children, it will be easier to explain to them where they are from and that it comes from both parents, not just one. We can both have conversations with our children about the good and challenging things while having different ethnicities.”

Abana grew up in a small town in Jutland, Denmark, and as a teenager he felt out of place. He started being drawn to the Hiphop culture in the States, because he saw people and role models that looked like him and spoke to him. He started to learn more about American history, which led him to the history on the transatlantic slave trade; which eventually led him back to Africa. He also learned about African history and cultivated it more by focusing on different countries like Nigeria. He researched about his Nigerian roots; the tribe system before the colonial era, and also how the colonial era affected Nigeria. He also learned about art, which he also brings into some of his paintings. He recognizes that it can be challenging for some to accept and love their culture, when you’re far away, however he feels that fashion, music and most of pop culture are inspired by Africa and the States.

“You should be proud and not hide yourself away from it and only acknowledge your Danish side.

There's nothing wrong with that, but I think that it is also healthy to acknowledge your other background and culture without them clashing.

I say all this to say that it’s not because I wear it on my sleeve that I am Nigerian but I am very conscious and aware of my Nigerian background and culture. I express it in different ways like in my paintings with cold and variegated colors; even mine and my wife’s interior design.

Having the mixture between Scandinavian style and African decorations is a fantastic combination.

So being aware and conscious about my heritage and culture just rubs off in a natural way.”

As an artist it has been important for Abana to acknowledge his own talent and his ability to match other Danish artists despite him having an African background and there being an invisible wall that separates him from the others.

He feels that Afro-Scandinavians should focus on how they individually can push for better narratives, and opportunities for their community.