The Prophet of Black Folk (Portfolio) refers to Ali Ibn Mohamed the seventh century poet who led an African slave revolt in Iraq—The Zanj Revolt. His supporters asked to claim prophesy, but he refrained. The revolt lasted fourteen years during which the Zanj defeated the army of the caliph and conquered Basra. They established a capital and minted their own coins. In his 1995 book Al Kitab—The book— the contemporary poet Adonis calls Ibn Mohamed a prophet indicating the importance of this poet leader and his ambition to have poetry match scripture.
This portfolio of print features Adonis’ mentions of this historical figure. The printmaking techniques employed are varied: etching, woodcut, collograph, and paper lithography. The majority of them were executed during a residency at the MacDowell Colony, NH in 2002. The whole portfolio was subsequently acquired by The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. Read Review
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 1, etching, woodcut, paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "They thought that he/does not speak words of prophets./They thought that he/is getting ready to reform the sky."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 2, monotype, paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) , 2002. "The fields, the alleys are/ petrified of the sound/ of our steps, -/ Is it our storms coming?"
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 3, etching and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002 "The Prophet of Black Folk said:/ Black ink is flowing/ over the papers of this/ world:/ whiteness cannot/ be unless it is/ fertilized by/ Black luster."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 4, etching and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. The Prophet of Black Folk said: /The desire of things/is the blood of things.
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 5, etching, woodcut and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30.5cm x 46cm), 2002. The Prophet of Black Folk said: "The World- this World/ is a pact/ between a throne and oppression and I/ am innocent of this pact.
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 6, Prophet 6, etching and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002 "The Prophet of Black Folk said: /The eggs of the stars/ are hatched in nests/ of rebellion,/ they will celebrate Earth’s holiday./// Infinity/ lies dumb/ in an ant’s hill.
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 7, collagraph and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "The people of Basra are either fleeing,/ stupefied or kneeling./ That is the completion of my vision:/ Basra’s complete destruction./// Put your hands on my cheeks,/ make sure that/ my head is my despair.
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 8, etching and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "The Prophet of Black Folk said/ as Black Folk conquered it:/ Basra rose before me/ My people in it are a typhoon,/ permitting no escape."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio:Plate 9, monotype, paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "The Prophet of Black Folk said:/ History is a marriage/ between the image/ and the meaning."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 10, collagraph and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "The people of Basra are either fleeing,/ stupefied or kneeling./ That is the completion of my vision:/ Basra’s complete destruction./// Put your hands on my cheeks, / make sure that/ my head is my despair."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 11, etching and paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "The Prophet of Black Folk said/ as Black Folk conquered it:/ Basra rose before me/ My people in it are a typhoon,/ / permitting no escape."
The Prophet Of Black Folk Portfolio: Plate 12, monotype, paper-litho, A/P, 12"x18" (30,5cm x 46cm) ,2002. "After the Death of Ali/ who will/ rekindle/ for Black Folk in this surrounding/ darkness, the flame of/ memory?"