On May 3, 2013, former Black Panther and Black Liberation Party member, Assata Shakur became the first woman in history to make to the FBI’s Most Wanted List. HJFoley of Misebogland wrote In May of 1973, Shakur was in a car that was pulled over by police on the New Jersey highway. A shootout occurred, resulting in the deaths of her companion and fellow activist Zayd Malik Shakur and State Trooper Werner Foerster. Assata Shakur was wounded in the gunfight, having been shot twice. Accounts of what happened that night differ greatly — surviving Trooper James Harper (also wounded) claimed...

The UdoU Series was always intended to be in two parts 1) women creating captures of their own Afrocentric beauty and sensuality and 2) photographers creating an image collection with these women that is inspired and informed by how the sistas see themselves. It’s that opportunity for us to own our beauty, proudly, without objectification. earthSista NikkiVonNu and photographer Bobby Williams were the first to explore this pioneering concept. But there are many sets out there that are still in stage one. Are there any photographers willing to pick up the baton and carry it to stage two?

Moments impulsive and raw. No glamour or drama either. Just the real. And that was Sindel. She is edgy and quick to say that she is not the typical afrocentric earthSista. Loud, vulgar (in a very good way), gritty and offbeat. She is an Urbanista for sure. There is this ‘emo’ edge about her. And she is quick to tell you how bleak the world is, and how grim she feels because she is ‘disgusted with people.’ And while she does actually feel that, the bleakness just doesn’t hold up. Her spirit is too strong and its as if it cradles her hopes… waiting for the opportunity...

TO CLEANSE: to rid of impurities by or as if by washing. TO PURIFY: to clear from material defilement or imperfection: to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish: to free from undesirable elements: to grow or become pure. ♥ NISHDana MistressofMayhem Major and James Brewer Photography Tanisha Lynn Pyron aka (PRETTYFIRE) is an artist and a visual storyteller, currently working on her MFA in acting at the University of Illinois. The young artist considers herself to be a modern day...

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” –Rajneesh We take a moment, to look back. When earthSista Hershey was on her path to become earthMama Henna. A moment of captures by earthSista NikkiVonNu. Pangea’s Garden continues to grow. We are actively striving to be your Afrosensual nexus of ideas, images, commentary, participation and events that inspire, provoke, entertain and...

Its called the Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show. Can you say the whole name right? Nobella of Nobella’s Lookbook fame attended the 16th Annual Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Health & Beauty Show for the her very first time. And, not only did she have a blast, the attendees (more than 30,000 this year according to the show’s event coordinator, Pat Chapman) were thrilled to see her. As she entered the large showroom floor, heads turned, marveling at her own personal style, charisma and glamour. In fact she did not walk more than ten steps before she was...

To The Senses I want to tell gorgeous stories naturally enchanting narratives I want to create sensual beauty beauty that you can touch with your eyes follow the lines and hug the curves as the light does. let your gaze dance on her flesh as the shadows do. embrace the texture of beauty and realize that her “flaws” are gorgeous too. let me stimulate you with the contrast of soft brown flesh and hard grey floors warm pressed against cool youthful skin smooth surrounded by age and distress. i want to stimulate your sense of sight with curves and angles, lights and darks lines and tension and...

a momentary preview of a curious and sensuous stroll… look for earthSista Nambi to make her debut… soon! Pangea’s Garden continues to grow. We are actively striving to be your Afrosensual nexus of ideas, images, commentary, participation and events that inspire, provoke, entertain and actively engage you. If you love what you see here and desire to see more, please consider signing up for a premium membership. It grants you access to ALL...

A momentary respite to remind ourselves that the glamour of afrosensual beauty is ubiquitous. From underground caverns of New York to the fashion newsstands of Tokyo, you will find it. Proud and adorned. Enough said. These images are featured in the April 2013 issue of VOGUE Japan. Models: Liya Kebede & David Agbodji Photographer: Mikael Jansson Fashion Editor: George Cortina Hair: Anthony Turner Make-up: Hannah Murray Nails: Gina Edwards Pangea’s Garden continues to grow. We are actively striving to be your Afrosensual nexus of ideas, images, commentary, participation and events...

“When I first modeled for the Garden, everything about me said, awkward. “My face, my body structure, my vibe. If anything, my best friend was there giving me pointers,and Vincent worked hard to make me feel more comfortable. Its a big difference when you’re taking pictures of yourself versus a professional photographer getting something out of you. I think the shoot just got better when the clothes started to come off. My face was nothing but all smiles. I fear that I only look better when I am smiling more. It can get old…but it s a flaw I’m sure Vincent can...

“just one time…i’d like to place my lips on your neck and sip/ from your scent like the finest wine/ in the world and don’t mind being/ intoxicated by your essence…” next lifetime time, place, and space aren’t on my side/ traitors, if you want to know/ partly because i don’t have you/ in this lifetime with me/ there’s a sadness in me that lingers like/ dark clouds…no light in sight/ oh if i had the opportunity… to glance at your male beauty or to admire the way your bright eyes smile when your boyishness appears when you are amused/ my mind hurts from the vivid...

A woman is such a large vessel that she can become filled with so much and not overflow, not so for a man, men spill. Kwesi Abbensetts Kwesi Abbensetts is a South American born photographer, hailing from the country of Guyana.  In 2006 while in his final year of film school at Brooklyn College, Kwesi purchased a FUJI 5600 digital camera and from thereon his love for photography blossomed.  Photography gave him the immediacy that was missing from film.  A self taught photographer, Kwesi had no prior formal training. Having traveled around...

In the early days of the Garden, when I was just beginning to realize that there others who wanted to create images that celebrated afrosensual beauty, I, a few photographers and a couple of earthSistas took a stroll by the lake in the morning. We’d started a little later than intended but that didn’t matter because, as you will see in these images we were right on time. This is not the first time I’ve featured images from that day. I shared a set that I created that featured earthSistas ButtaFly and Hershey (now Henna) as did photographer Hafees Byard. And, I think a few of...

“I don’t know about tomorrow because God is Today.” – earthSista Nubién Open and free-spirted, Nubién is sassy, feisty and playful in front of the camera and she is not much different when she is up-close and personal. Nubién is that upbeat, uniquely determined Urbanista who ‘loves life despite all the obstacles that come her way.’ She will tell you without hesitation that she has no time for those who have no time for her and as you get to know her you quickly realize that she is simply a woman seeking to have and share happiness. The young student’s heart...

Typically, earthSista FlowerChild is joined by earthSista GreenRose in her sets for the Garden but on one occasion she decided to stroll alone. It was a sunny day, with a bright blue sky decorated with puffy clouds; perfect for creating images for Pangea’s Nature Stroll Series. Typically, she is playful to the point of goofiness but on this day there was something different that stood out about her. She started out quite whimsical but as the walk progressed she became pensive as well as a bit sultry. There is a bit of mystery behind her eyes and that became more evident as we created captures....