AnAkA’s AKTIV8 Portal series preserves sacred consciousness and honors cultural wisdom practices through the presentation of the AKTIV8 Archive. In 2014, AnAkA began the AKTIV8 project, an archive protecting global cultural movements, processes, and rituals, which the artist sees as a work of ethnographic reclamation. AKTIV8 has since grown into a Cultural Research Creative Studio encompassing a vast global collection of stories of healers, artists and revolutionaries within the African, American, and Caribbean diasporas. By creating experiential portal experiences of this archive, AKTIV8 is a safe-space movement for communal cultural exchange and balanced wisdom preservation. Using their art as a compass, AnAkA activates this sacred wisdom by creating AKTIV8 Portals to intentionally heal the land and the people. By sharing a series of experiential windows into the archive, AnAkA intends to provide a sacred space for the community to come together in peace and give thanks to the Ancestors. As we collectively heal from the shifts, this space will serve to elevate our spiritual awareness and encourage cultural exchange.
AKTIV8 Portal 7: Prayer for Peace
AKTIV8 Portal 7 is a ritual and prayer in the faerie forest of Oregon in order to increase the collective consciousness vibration of peace. Through the use of Angel Music and magic, AnAkA prays for the healing of the collective to aid in the end of genocide and to increase abundance for those in the Highest vibration. Blessed Spring Equinox.
AKTIV8 Portal 6: Angel Music for the Weelaunee Forest
As a continuation of the AKTIV8 PORTAL series, AnAkA ritualizes AKTIV8 PORTAL (6): Angel Music for the Weelaunee Forest in Atlanta, GA by performing to the trees and revolutionaries protecting them in the sacred Weelaunee Forest. This is a grand ritual and gesture in order to stop the building of cop city.
As a descendant of these Muskogee and Cherokee lands, AnAkA will perform Angel Music as a bio frequency medicine for the land, the people and beyond.
This AKTIV8 Portal was made possible as Episode three of the Radical Futures series, supported by the Theater Offensive.
Directed by AnAkA
Director of Photography: Marcelo Pancote
Produced by The Theater Offensive
Photography Sasha Jelan
Created by Zozo Films
Special thanks to Anika Logan & the Protectors of the Weelaunee Forest
Make sure to follow the Stop Cop City Movements !
AKTIV8 Portal 5: Paris
AKTIV8 Portal Paris was a three day pop up at La Boutique Gallery. Holding space for local artists, musicians and culture protectors, AnAkA hosted workshops, screenings and discussions for all three days. She also created a special altar in honor of Josephine Baker.
This portal was made possible by the MAP Fund.
AKTIV8 Portal 4: Los Angeles
Launching the release of the first AKTIV8 limited edition photography book AKTIV8 Archive: A Sacred Wisdom Movement. AnAkA cultivated a sacred space in Los Angeles to celebrate the book launch and to also discuss with community the urgency of wisdom preservation.
This AKTIV8 Portal was made possible by the MAP Fund.
AKTIV8 Portal [3]: Open Heart Meditation with AnAkA & Special Guest Laraaji
Presented by Black Science Fiction Collective & AKTIV8 Archive
AKTIV8 Portal [3] is a continuation of sacred wisdom explorations conceptualized by AnAkA as a part of a project entitled AKTIV8 Archive. AKTIV8 Archive is an ethnographic breathing archive that documents sacred creative processes of artists who utilize their art as a healing practice.
The goal of AKTIV8 Portal [3] is to empower and continue the mission of AKTIV8 with an installation and soundscape to honor the importance of how it feels to have an open heart. Sound is a tool of healing that has been used since the dawn of creation. This wisdom will be practiced by creating an ambient sound bath guided by Spirit between AnAkA and special guest musician, Laraaji.
DONATION-BASED EVENT Donation based - Donations go to Black Oregon Land Trust (https://www.blackoregonlandtrust.org) & production costs -
Suggested donation of $5-$25 Cashapp & Venmo : AnAkA444 Zelle: anaka.work@gmail.com
This event is a part of Black Futures Month curated by Black Science Fiction Collective. You can see the rest of the programming here: https://www.blacksciencefiction.space/bsf-events
Special thanks to Scholes Street Studio, Starr Sanford, #DayOnesArt and Black Science Fiction Collective
For this particular project, AnAkA returns to the trees that raised her here in Portland OR to perform for them as an act of gratitude. In AKTIV8 Portal (2) you will witness AnAkA perform original works for nature, as a way to give thanks to the Ancestors, the trees, the waters, the air, the soil and the ether.
This short film documentation of the performance is currently on exhibition at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum at Portland State University.
AKTIV8 Portal [1] : The Shed NY Presentation - July 2021