Heritage Series 05: ERAH x AKIYA

Written by Lauren Bryant

Erica Ezeogu is a true next-gen creative: a musician, director, painter, designer, and TikTok-viral rug-maker, all in one. From being knocked down to getting back up, to explorations of self-discovery that feel honest and raw, Erica poses the question we all want answered: what does it mean to actualise your potential?

In the creative world, she goes by two names. Erah, the musician and Akiya, the artist. An intentional split of her two artistic halves that when said aloud are reminiscent of her real name. Unlike Erah, Akiya is a physical artist, crafting rugs, illustrations and paintings by hand. Whether a crazy coincidence or a twist of fate, and as her grandma pointed out, the name loosely translates to ‘her hands’ in their native language, Igbo. 

During the 2020 lockdown, she discovered fellow polymath Deaton Chris Anthony, an American singer-songwriter, producer, and rug-maker. Going viral on TikTok soon after, you might know her by the name “rug girl”. Her Underground Jazz Club Scene collection is an interpretation of what she’s seen in movies and overheard in conversations: the dancing, the fashion, the sound. Translating this intimacy and mystique into visual form with a neo-expressionist style, Akiya transports us to a smoky yet vibrant club. A mean feat considering she’s never set foot in one. 

From rug-maker to painter, Akiya’s six-part illustrative series, Are You Ready To Fight For That In Which You Want?, was the recent subject of a sold-out Transformative Garments workshop produced by the V&A East. Employing the boxer as a conduit for self-discovery, the series is inspired by Hajime no Ippo, a Japanese manga series about a kid who is tired of being bullied and wants to protect himself. Observing the likes of Ali and Tyson, Akiya has an eye for movement, the disfiguring of the human body and the pain it endures in the pursuit of victory. From betting on herself in a new country, alone and hearing a lot of nos along the way, Akiya’s work illustrates her own journey towards gaining the painful, (at times) delusional kind of self-belief needed in order to actualise your potential. 

This resilience is found in the intricacies of her craftswomanship. All of her garments are one-of-a-kind and an intimate exchange. You’re not just buying a rug or a hand-painted polo, you’re buying the effort she put into it, the time she woke up to start it, even the show she was watching. In her own words, “It’s a gift and a big reward for me in being able to give that.” 

It’s clear that Akiya’s work is just as much about others as it is about herself. There is an emphasis placed on human connection, between artist and observer, wearer, or buyer—a sense of pride that comes with playing a small part in someone else’s self-expression. Her design workshops and desire to help others appreciate the slow-down are an extension of this, albeit a rarity amongst a society that demands instant gratification. 

Erica’s work is representative of her every day, her curiosities, likes and dislikes at any given moment. From boxing to jazz, rugs to clothes, and being knocked down to getting back up, she is unbound by creative mediums
or topics of exploration—a true representation of what it means to be a creative in today’s world, with a limitless approach to artistic expression.

Discover more from our Arts & Culture section here.