Jasmine Abena Colgan

Jasmine Abena Colgan is a multimedia artist based in Denver, Colorado, she strikes the conversation around skin colors. Her works address cultural and racial boundaries around material and human value. Colgan is a dual citizen between America and Ghana, and uses her artwork to integrate the idea that humans communicate and relate on a deeper level than social interaction.

Instagram @the.spotted.zelephant

Takocha

Takocha is a chewing sponge, it is a toothbrush that is from the Salvadora tree in Ghana. Growing up, I was embarrassed of my ancestral roots because it is rich in tradition and belief. As I have grown older, I have taken an interest in my mother’s cultural history because it has vibrant practices that are lively and beautiful. Oral hygiene is one of those, my mom encouraged my brothers and I to use takocha when we were younger, because this dried tree branch does an amazing job at scraping the plaque off of your teeth. Using takocha is laborious but it is worth the effort. An indigenous reminder that everything has a way of evolving.