There is a fair argument to be made that the desire to be loved is perhaps the most innate of all desires in the human experience. It is therefore particularly necessary that we remember during times of conflict, chaos and discord to spread love, not only in sentiment but with tangible action.
Sydney Emeka Nwakanma, the founder of Berlin-based, upcycled garment label, EMEKA, is championing this sentiment throughout his brand’s output. Its latest short-film, ‘TRIBE’, is a shining testament to this. EMEKA crafts its luxe tailoring by hand in Kenya from donated materials and was founded in an attempt by Nwakanma to develop an artistic bridge between Africa and Europe. There was personal significance to this, as he sought a way to create points of connection between both sides of his personal heritage, but the brand is anything but two-dimensional in the garments it creates.
The brand creates “uniforms of change”, fit for everyone who is willing to contribute to social, political and environmental progress. Through, ‘TRIBE’, videographer Dhanesh Jayaselan and Nwakanma, look to conceptually extinguish tribal ideology wars that rage across our present-day discourse, in favour of one, united tribe. Not to be mistaken for a tribe that is guided by singular-thought, this desired tribe is one that maintains respect and acceptance for all beliefs and views that are fundamentally loving. The film concludes with musician and model Femi Oyewole professing one wish: for “the world to be more loving”. Paradoxically, the desire to receive love is only ever truly answered when we are ready to give love — without unity, we will continue to be enemies of our own progress.
You can watch ‘TRIBE’ by EMEKA below:
Credits
Videography: Dhanesh Jayaselan
Editing: Dhanesh Jayaselan & Sydney Emeka Nwakanma
Grading: Dhanesh Jayaselan
Music: Jesper Munk
Talent: Femi Oyewole, Maggie Coker, Olivia Berger, Jesper Munk and Madeleine Munk
Post-sound mixing: Joaquin Fangmann