A few days ago, Magnus Johansson from the band Smallfunk, an exceptionally talented musician from Sweden, reached out to ask if I would be interested in collaborating on his next album.
He explained that the album would be a tribute to both his dear friend and to the vibrant spirit of Africa. From the moment he mentioned Africa, I felt an immediate connection — the word alone brought a smile to my face, and I was inspired to dive into its symbolism.
I began by collecting flowers endemic to Africa, selecting those that resonated most deeply with me. These flowers became the core of the design — symbols of life, growth, and the continent’s natural beauty.
As I worked, I felt compelled to incorporate elements of religious symbolism, inspired by the well-known Biblical imagery of Adam and Eve. With the album's title, Afrodisiac, in mind, I approached this symbolism with a contemporary twist, exploring themes of innocence, temptation, and the evolving nature of desire. In my interpretation, Eve becomes the apple — a symbolic gesture that reflects both the title and the sensuality at the heart of the album.
The result is an artistic exploration that blends the sacred with the sensual, inviting a re-examination of these themes through an African lens, while honoring the cultural and spiritual nuances of both traditions.
Check out the album here
Julunggul
The Rainbow Serpent, or Rainbow Snake, is a revered deity in Aboriginal mythology, often seen as the Creator God.
Known by various names across different Aboriginal languages and cultures, this sacred being is a powerful symbol in both art and religion. Like an archetypal mother goddess, the Rainbow Serpent shapes the land and fosters diversity, yet when disturbed, it can unleash great chaos.
While not all myths depict the serpent as a snake or connect it with a rainbow, the presence of water or rain is almost always central. When a rainbow arcs across the sky, it is said to signal the movement of the Rainbow Serpent from one waterhole to another. This divine imagery explains why some waterholes never run dry, even in times of drought.
