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Amaku Nkoyo

Name: Amaku Nkoyo
Address: New York, NY, 11231, US
Telephone: +19172028102
Rating: 5

Costume, accessories and art made by Amaku Nkoyo. Styling and design by Amaku Nkoyo. Creative Direction by Amaku Nkoyo. Artivism by Amaky Nkoyo.
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Artistic Vision by Amaku Nkoyo.

03/19/2024

Just some photos of the booth from the market at Pettaway Square in Little Rock

03/17/2024

Doing my first market as The Amaku Project in Little Rock this morning! Today I'll have vintage suits and sets, dresses, tops, pants, skirts, bags and more. There'll also be some handmade jewelry by me and some self-collected crystals courtesy of my other shop Amaku Metaphysical ( ). Come shop with me today! It's gonna be a lovely day! See you there!🤗

09/06/2021

Just some green for di page dem💚

The b**b tape job was lazy and rushed - but mainly lazy - hence the added graphics. Definitely need to find some body tape and actually learn how to do nice things with it.

Location: "The Red Road", Puna County, (Big) Island of Hawai'i

Photography: Kenny Sevilla

Concept, Styling and Art Direction: Amaku Nkoyo

08/22/2021

Afro Carnival 2021, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC

Was lit!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Photos by:

08/20/2021

So I just found out about yesterday afternoon so my entire weekend's plans have changed! Who else is going?

And guys, do let me know if I should dress for an actual carnival at some point because I certainly can. Thanks!😁

lemme know 😉

Photography by: Kenny Sevilla ( )

Body Art + Styled by: Amaku Nkoyo ()

Hat by:

Mask by: Kara Rivera

08/16/2021

A reminder to myself - Amaku the performer - as I have demonstrated (especially recently) that sometimes I can forget what I know - worse still, that I even know at all - that I can forget what I'm capable of, that I can forget that there are endless possibilities...

(This is me talking to myself now):

You are a performer

You are passionate about great stories

You know how to embody a character in order to bring an epic tale to life

You are always learning how to better convey stories through performance

You are a student of the Arts

You know your craft... nonetheless, you keep seeking experiences that help you refine your skills as an artist

You know how to look into a camera and tell a story

Being a performer is your spiritual assignment

You understand the assignment

Portrait by: Kenny Sevilla

08/03/2021

Good Morning! It's 4:50 a.m. on the east coast and supposedly this isn't a great time to post on IG but here we go anyway! - a portrait for the sake of algorithms...

As you know, the way IG algorithms work these days, only 10% of our followers ever see our content so if you're seeing content from me for the first time in ages (or first time ever) and you generally don't see my posts and you actually want to, do click on the 🔔 symbol on my page so that you can turn on notifications for my posts. You definitely do want to do that because I'll be dropping some🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 this month! I spent 42 weeks on the Hawaiian islands and you haven't seen even a tiny fraction of the art that I created/co-created there so stay tuned!

In these portraits, I'm modeling a gorgeous extra large haku (that also fits around my hips and I have the pictures to prove it😁) handmade by Rita of . If you are in Honolulu or find yourself there on a trip definitely consider a haku and a photoshoot by Rita!

by Rita

I had fun styling me for this shoot. Inspired by Polynesian culture which I adore so much.

The cowrie shell mask that I'm holding was made by Kara Rivera - an artist based on the Big Island of Hawai'i.

There's so much beauty and creativity on the Hawaiian islands. I'm looking forward to my return ❤️

07/28/2021

Fashion shoots, glamor shoots, art photography shoots - especially the underwater variety - I love them. They're so much fun. I know how to do these. I understand the assignment. There's a flow and an ease to these artistic endeavors. There's little to no stress or worry. At the end of it all the sentiment amongst the team is "We did that". All is well.

BUT TAKING SOME "SIMPLE" ACTING HEADSHOTS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ME! Whyyyyyyy😩😭 I have to get headshots taken tomorrow and I'm terrified! I don't know what to do. I thought I understood the assignment. I worked so hard and was so thorough but it wasn't enough. Failed to execute during the first shoot. Tomorrow is a do-over and I think I might fail again.

I've been planning this since I was on Maui. That's almost two months. And I still feel underprepared. I wrote pages of notes, traveled all the way from New York to Atlanta for this, brought extra wardrobe with me in the name of too much rather than not enough, still managed to forget pants in a rush 🤦🏾‍♀️, bought the pants here in Atlanta...all just to sit down and look at a camera and BE EXPOSED.

With headshots it's simple wardrobe, simple hair and simple natural makeup AND THE STUDIO LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT THAT EVERY BLEMISH ON YOUR SKIN GETS THEIR 15 minutes of fame - to be seen, to take a bow - unless you have flawless skin or hire a professional makeup artist. I don't have flawless skin and I didn't hire a makeup artist the first time. Lesson learned. Now I'm anxious about doing my own make-up - something that I do on my own for 99% of photoshoots that I'm in.

I'm rambling. I feel ugly. Why does the shot have to be so damn close? Any closer and you'd be able to see up my nostrils and you'd be wondering to yourself "Didn't she get that nose piercing 3 years ago? Why is it still unhealed?". That's a good question.

Anyway, thinking back to the shoot on the beach on O'ahu. I felt empowered. I felt in control. I felt pretty. I feel none of these things right now. I feel vulnerable - completely naked and unprotected and powerless.

All because of some headshots 🤦🏾‍♀️

by

by

07/11/2021

*Deep Sigh*

Words fail me....😔

R.I.P. Mr. Sound Sultan

07/08/2021

July 7 babies are cooler than cool. We da coldest! Despite being born in the summer 😁 A belated post for everyone who shares the special born-day of 7/7. And a special shout out to those who just turned 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 and 120! This is our Jupiter Return year! Make the most of it! With Jupiter in the same placement where it was when we were born, all that we put our minds to has a much higher likelihood of success! So go get it!

Photography by:

Make-up by:

Art direction and styling by: (that's me😁)

Dress by:

Snagged this coat at ☺️

06/21/2021

In between photoshoots so I went ahead and created these images from a photo that Kumu Kamakakēhau took of us at the Juneteenth event at Kapi'olani park in Honolulu. Posting 2 days later because I wobbled, dropped it, werked it, flipped it and reversed A LOT that day and it took a while to regain the use of my limbs 😅

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Happy belated Juneteenth to all my Black brethren and sistren out there! Free-ish since 1865✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 And now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday the President can go ahead and backtrack and meet with his Congress so that they can get at least ONE of the proposed 200 anti-lynching bills passed. Like c'mon🙄

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Anyway.....

05/18/2021

"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." 🇵🇸
Visit the website of the BDS movement to find out how you can help: www.bdsmovement.net

Photography by: Kenny Sevilla

04/07/2021

Just a cell phone photo from January's beach shoot with Ryan Barayuga ( ) - who is a creative GENIUS (check out his page to see what I'm talking about. Kayla Scheffler ( ) did an amazing job with my make-up that day and also snapped this photo while Ryan was doing his thing (check out her page for more Avant garde make up looks!).

I'm confident that the edited photos will end up as magazine covers so stay tuned 🤩

Art direction and styling by: (that's me😉)

02/22/2021

A couple of weeks ago when I was enjoying life on O'ahu...

Dress by

Make-up by

Styling by:

02/05/2021

❤️Aloha❤️

Happy Black History Month (although has declared it Black History YEAR) and happy Hawaiian Language Month! Currently, on Maui (or is it technically Māui 🤔) and I'm so excited to be taking Kumu Kamakakēhau's beginner Hawaiian Language course! 😁I'm definitely looking for book suggestions to accompany my studies so feel free to drop some!

Also, I'm working on a plan to teach African dance movement theory and Afrobeats dance classes on Maui this month so if you're on the island stay tuned for more info about that!

🌺 Mahalo 🌺

01/16/2021

This post is about masks, masquerades, travel, culture and tradition, the amazing people that capture these on film and in photos and my upcoming projects related to the above
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I've been a lover of masks and masquerades (the complete iteration of a mask) since as long as I can remember. This year, I'll be working on making elaborate masks in addition to designing and creating a line of costumes inspired by Efik masquerades in addition to some wearable art pieces that latter which I would submit photos of for the World of Wearable Art Competition when events can take place again in-person. The WOW awards takes place in Wellington, New Zealand and I fully intend to be present for the next show that they have in-person. Wish me strength, courage and good fortune! I don't expect what I'm trying to do to be an easy endeavor!

1st and 3rd photos taken by:

Wardrobe styling, face and body painting and photo editing by:

The 2nd and 4th photos are photos taken by the legendary photographer and these happen to be the cover photos for: Maske and México Mask Rituals respectively. If you don't have these photobooks as your coffee table books in your living room then you may as well give away the whole coffee table!😅

My late father - the architect, designer, ambassador of Cuban Abakua and Nigerian Efik cultural relations, and Chairman of the Board of the Efik National Association in the U.S. - Asuquo Ukpong, is the one who introduced me to Maske. It was one of his favorite coffee table books which he insisted I borrow on several occasions and now it's my treasured possession as when he passed on my birthday in July of 2019, I swiped it immediately (that was a confession). I will always appreciate how beautifully and with so much clarity Phyllis Galembo captured our masquerades. I will always love seeing US - Efik masquerades, Efik culture, masked Efik people - represented in a book that is widely available. I've always felt like Efik people treat Efik culture like it is a secret - hiding it even from their own children. (Continued in the comments)

12/09/2020

To all my people out there mọkọm! Emesiere from the Big Island of Aloha (although I know it's afternoon, evening, nighttime and beyond for some of you) 💖🌺💖

I come with exciting news!

Tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. Hawai'i-Tahiti time/9:30 a.m. PST/12:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. GMT I'll be on IG Live talking to one of my favorite artists Oscar Korbla Mawuli Awuku of about the spiritual, contemplative and cultural nature of bodypainting. We'll also be talking about his upcoming projects in Ghana. Make sure you don't miss this one!

This will be one of a series of IG Live interviews that I will be doing in advance of my workshop Decorated Body: The Spiritual Science of Body Art which I will be presenting on Zoom December 15th (in 6 days!) alongside two very special guest teachers. The description of this class will be posted to my spiritual practice's page shortly so feel free to follow me there and be on the lookout!

See you tomorrow on Live!

Pink background photo of me by:

12/08/2020

Ekọm do my people! Idem fo? I hope this announcement finds you well.

I'm so excited to tell you that I have the absolute honor of presenting two Zoom classes this month on the 15th and 29th of December with two brilliant, inspiring, and charismatic spiritual practitioners and teachers. More details are coming soon but they will be provided on my spiritual practice's page:

Do follow me there for more updates and information.

On the 15th of December we will be presenting: (The) Decorated Body: The Spiritual Science of Body Art. I will be making a separate, more detailed post about that on my other page HOWEVER I will be going on IG Live both here and on the Spiritual Ta***ic Life page throughout the week to briefly chat with different artists and spiritual practitioners regarding the topic of spirituality and tattoos, body painting and so on. I will post in advance of each Live so that you can know when to join me!

Tag a tattooed friend, a tattoo artist, a body painter, someone with an affinity for piercings, a henna artist, someone with an affinity for scarification, a piercing professional, and anyone else who has an attraction to decorating the body in some way shape or form.

It's currently 9 a.m. in Hawai'i and I will jump on Live (here on this page) at 1 p.m. HST/3 p.m. PST/6 p.m EST to talk more about what to expect during this week leading up to the class on the 15th.

Also do check out the pages of these two extraordinary beings and do feel free to follow them as well:

Blake Houston:

Dainichi Lazuli:

11/30/2020

Full Moon weekend portraits Part 1

Unplanned selfie photoshoot

I don't know if you can tell, but I'm really missing those shoots where I'm not the entire team😑

Make-up, styling, photography and editing by moi:

Vishvavajra yantra earrings from

11/09/2020

Mood in New York City right now...
I miss you all so much. Ya sure know how to celebrate 💃🎉🎈
by:

11/07/2020

Ekọm do my people! Greetings from the Big Island of Aloha!🌺❤️🌺
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I come with news of two amazing online experiences that are happening this November that I wouldn't want you to miss especially as I will be teaching at them both.
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This pandemic year has given us the opportunity to conveniently do many things that we otherwise would never have been able to do and attending a Ta**ra festival online is on the list! If you've ever been curious about what happens during a Ta**ra festival and what you'd come away with after but have never felt called to leave your home, get in a car or on a plane, spend hundreds to thousands of dollars and so forth because you just didn't know what value you'd receive in return, you now have the opportunity to get a taste of the experience and receive the education from wherever you are.
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The first up is happening in 6 days! The Heart of Ta**ra Festival which typically takes place in western Canada, will be online for you to participate in from November 12 - 17. Visit the website for more information: www.heartofta**rafestival.com . If you feel called to register after reviewing all the information, do make sure to mention me (Amaku) as the one who referred you at checkout!
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The next online educational experience after that will be the One World Ta**ra Festival which runs from November 20 - 27 and will feature over 100 presenters and 150+ workshops. You will have access to all of the recordings for 30 days after the festival has ended. Visit the website here: www.ta**rafestival.online/Amaku
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I'll post more information about the workshops that I will be presenting on my page: so do follow me there if you'd like to know more!
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I look forward to gathering with interested ones online during these two festivals and of course, I invite you to attend my workshops!
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Sọsọñọ 🙏🏾!
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by:
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**ra **rafestival **rateacher

10/19/2020

Currently accepting bookings for Afro-avant garde, Afro-futuristic, colorful Afro-camp, and/or Mami Wata/Mermaid style photoshoots in San Francisco during the first week of November!
🐚🌺♥️By the way, grand rising and Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii🌺🐚♥️
My stay here will soon come to an end (😔😩) and when I reach the U.S. I'll be arriving in California for a few days of artistic pursuits. I'll be touching down in San Francisco on November 1st and will be staying in Oakland for a very short few days and I'm seeking creatives and others who are interested in being painted, styled and costumed in hand-made masks, accessories and headdresses. For professional and aspiring models alike, it's ALWAYS a great idea to have a range of styles of images in your portfolio! But again, I'm offering this to every and anyone interested - adults, children, families, (groups of) friends, couples, colleagues etc...
Please DM asap for more details! I will be in the Bay Area 3 days maximum before I have to head to Los Angeles! Pre-booking and scheduling need to be completed this October by the 30th but please don't wait until the last minute!😉 Book early. I look forward to hearing from you!
Feel free to share this and tag anyone you think would be interested. The majority of the proceeds from the shoots will go back to the Hawai'i-based artist who sources all of the materials for the masks herself which she also makes by hand. Thank you 🙏🏾

Pictured: Jada Imani
Photographer: Kenny Sevilla
Face+body painting, wardrobe styling and headpiece by: Amaku ()
Mask by: Kara Rivera

10/13/2020

💖💖💖🌺Aloha from the Kingdom of Hawaii.🌺💖💖💖
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It's 11:42 p.m. here so it's still October 12th - the day designated Indigenous Peoples' Day.
4 years ago around this time I was camped out at the unincorporated resistance city referred to as the Oceti Sakowin Camps (a.k.a DAPLonia. We gave it a nickname). I typically wouldn't ever camp anywhere nor brave freezing winters worse than those I am used to (i.e. North Dakota winters). I also wouldn't put myself in harm's way unnecessarily and yet I've done all of those things on account of Indigenous sovereignty - because Indigenous sovereignty is important to me.
It is a moral imperative to stand with, resist with and to do what we can to protect Indigenous people everywhere. Periodt.
I think about and reflect on Indigeneity, Indigenous Sovereignty, Indigenous land ownership, Indigenous language preservation, Indigenous peoples' access to wealth - all of this and more - EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. The focus on Indigenous peoples and Indigenous issues shouldn't be relegated to one day - or even one month - especially for those of us who have made a home on Indigenous lands. I hope that Indigenous Peoples' Day becomes everyday for all of us.
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼Lōkahi ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼
By the way, I've probably never properly introduced myself to anyone so I'll go ahead and do that now:
My name is Amaku Nkoyo Asuquo Ukpong. I'm of the Obio Usiere clan of the Efik tribe of the south-south zone of Southeast Nigeria. Asuquo was the name of my father. My father gave me the name Amaku - an uncommon clan name - a name given to both males and females. Amaku is a combination of two words "Ama" and "Oku". These two words each carry several different meanings. My father never gave up the meaning of my name before he died on my 34th birthday. I understand now that when the time comes, I will have to choose the meaning of my own name which will carry along with it my destiny. I was born and raised in "Lenapehoking" - Land of the Lenape - Brooklyn, New York City. And I stand with all Indigenous people everywhere.
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼Kū Kia'i Mauna✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼
📷
Mahalo 🙏🏾

10/05/2020

Selfie photoshoots are indeed a thing.
I give you Exhibit A:

09/25/2020

We gon' keep fighting for you.
This is in no way over.

and by:
by:
/ :
Location:
Styled by:

09/02/2020

African dance/music/culture is life ❤️❤️❤️❤️

08/29/2020

Speechless. Heart-broken. In disbelief.
Chadwick Boseman, as an artist, did SO MUCH for the culture.
Chadwick WAS the culture.
But now we have to continue on without him 😭😭😭😭
What a GREAT legacy to leave behind though...
Don't know what else to say aside from Rest in Power King.
by:
Mural painted by:
Pictured here with

08/26/2020

Shine bright like a diamond 💎

08/16/2020

Continue to fight for her and for all Black women everywhere✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼
Featuring:
Photographer:
Location:
Muralist:
(Clothing) Styled by: Amaku ( )
Sign and share the petition: https://bit.ly/2YfE74X

08/15/2020

By the way, I started a page dedicated to sharing and engagement around clean, vegan, organic and natural skincare, cosmetics, bodycare and hair care! Tips, DIY, products etc... These areas have been of interest to me in one way or another since adolescence and 2020 redirected my focus on these areas because this year had me looking a whole mess!🤣🤣🤣
Please do follow me !🙏🏾
I've been working on a lot of content which I'll be releasing in bulk really soon!
Thanks fam!✌🏾

Address

New York, NY
11231

Telephone

+19172028102

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Videos

"... when there are no more social rights or freedom of speech, creative people are the first ones to RISE against injustice, and to protect human rights and liberties." . - Mary Ann de Vlieg . . #blacklivesmatter #RISE #humanrights #bethechange #uprising #revolution #proudlyafrican #blackartistsmatter #change #reformation #creativepeople #evolutionofconsciousness #blactivist #enoughisenough #theworldischanging #proudlyblack #clouds #westand #spiritualrevolution #changeagent

The New Moon will be in the sign of Gemini this Friday the 22nd. How will you use the energy of this moon phase to work on your life? I'll be posting more information about this upcoming New Moon and suggesting practices that you can do to best align yourself with the energies that will be available to use for manifestation and more on my other page @spiritual_tantric_life. Until then, I'll be digitally twinning with myself in the name of art 😁 . . #newmoon #art #green #colorpop #african #digitalart #selfie #editing #colorful #africanartist #sparkle #allthecolors #efik #creativedirector #gemini #greeneyeshadow #manifest #africanfacepainting #artist #culture #colorfulhair #mirrored #africanculture #greenlipstick #glitter #nigerian #greenearrings #newbeginnings #creative

I just went to @citypointbklyn for some groceries from @target and @traderjoes and I'm hearing Afrobeats coming from the basement so me with my several bags decides to go and investigate. Turns out @dj_johny_lawrence_live33 plays Afrobeats in the basement of the mall on Friday nights. Errands and shopping in downtown Brooklyn just officially became a Friday night affair 😆 . (Wore the wrong shoes for this. Lol. Had I only known😄) . . So who's coming through this Friday?😁 . . #africanmusic #🇬🇭 #Afrobeats #🇳🇬 #downtownbrooklyn #afrobeatsdancer #african #nigerian #dancer #afrobeatsdancenyc #surprisedanceparty #citypointmall #afrobeatsdance #brooklyndanceparty

#Efik #ekombi #efikculture #africandance #nigerianculture #eyenefik #africandancers #calabar #ekombidancers #africanculture

#ataeyenefik #AsuquoUkpong #celebrationoflife #Efik #ekombi #africanculture #nigerianculture #africandance #efikculture #eyenefik

Celebration of Life...Efik style #AsuquoUkpong #eyenefik #africanculture #ekpe #Efik #ataeyenefik #African #celebrationoflife #efikculture #ekombi

#afrobeatsdancenyc #dancers #afrodance #nycdancers #africanstyle #dancersnyc #Afrobeats #dancelife

About last night😆 . . The aftermath on the streets post #afrobeatsdance class with SayQuon Keys ( @jusbmore ) . . "These people are still dancing!" #naijaaccent 😆😆😆😆😆😆 . . #african #dancers #afrobeats #nycdancers #africandancers #afrobeatsdancenyc #danceclass #afrodance #dancelife #africandance #nycdancelife

Having fun on stage😄 . . #africanmusic #missouri #africanartists #afrobeats #nigerianentertainment #africandance #band #performance #African #afromusic #nigerianmusic #westafrican #Nigerian #africandancer #culture #africanentertainment #africanartist #stlouis #africanband #afrodance #africansingers #africandancers #afrobeatsdance #africanculture

The Boy is Mine cover by @adele_clarice1 and @tolumide . Video bombed my yours truly😂 . . #africansingers #backstage #african #backupsingers #africanculture #soloartist #singing #Nigerian #cameroonian #ankarafashion #africanaccessories #backstagefun #beforetheshow

Just some backstage fun before the show at the University of Missouri before we performed with Toby Foyeh and Orchestra Africa😂. Making yanga with @tolumide and @adele_clarice1 . . @davidoofficial how did we do???😂😁😄😆 . . #backstage #africanartist #beforetheshow #Nigerian #africanculture #dressingroom #africanmusic #nigerianmusic #Davido #afromusic #africanladies #doitfortheculture #backupsingers #dressingroomfun #africansingers #fortheculture #african #waxprint #singing #afrobeats