Meet Anja & Jumbe Sebunya | Gallery Owners – aKAZI.ATL

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anja & Jumbe Sebunya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anja & Jumbe, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We have always loved art in all its forms and most importantly we have enjoyed witnessing and participating in the eco-systems that artists and creatives make happen, scaffold and leverage across communities, cities, regions, and continents. The driving force behind the creation of aKAZI.ATL was the intention to bring this type of experience to our little space on Auburn Ave in Atlanta – connecting creatives from the Continent to a wide cross section of Atlanta .

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We are personally passionate about art and we have collected works from all across the African Continent and yet we have no training in art history or curation. So we are very proud to have manifested a presence in the Atlanta arts infrastructure where we regularly and consistently draw groups of people from all demographics, ages and class. Of course we are also immensely happy that we are able to build the profiles and livelihoods for artists from the wonderful creative eco systems on the Continent.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course our own gallery, aKAZI ATL at Haugabrooks, 364 Auburn Ave!! Aside from that we love hanging out at City Winery where they showcase amazing musicians from across the world, walking all of the beltlines around the city, the High Museum which has made huge strides and actually looks like Atlanta now, a short hike at Arabia Mountain, the Atlanta University Center Museums and the many pop ups happening all weekends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In a moment of pure serendipity – our home in the O4W was on the tour of homes in 2019 and Donnell Q Woodson – Director of Housing Help Center – City of Atlanta came into our home and loved the art on our walls. We got to talking and he said you must meet Mtamanika Youngblood – former CEO of the Historic District Development Corporation. Long story short, he brought Mtamanika and Chenée Joseph (current CEO of the HDDC) for drinks in our home and they invited us into their beautiful event space at the iconic and historic Haugabrooks at 364, Auburn Ave where the gallery has taken root and flourished. As they say, the rest is history and our biggest shout out is due to these three people, eternal gratitude!
We are also very grateful for the recognition, partnership and support that Emory’s Department of Libraries and Museums have given us as well as the friendship and frequent partnerships with Gallery Miriam and Jean-Patrick Guichard.
A big shout out is also due to our friends and supporters who show up, bring their friends, make purchases and spread the word and create the vibe that is aKAZI.ATL.

Website: https://www.akaziatl.com/

Instagram: @akazi.atl

Image Credits
all photos courtesy of Iman Sebunya