Africhibi
Characters inspired by culture
🔥 3 hand-made sculptures + 3D hand painted digital art piece.
🌱 Genesis Collection - meet the team, artists and artisan.
🔑 39 unique NFTs.
Click to pause/play
- Connect your ETH wallet.
- Mint your Africhibi NFT.
- Go to gallery & access your exclusive digital content, and form to provide delivery details.
- Give us 30 days to ship your set of handmade soapstone sculptures!
Token-gated content for all NFT holders. Go to gallery and click on your artwork to access IPFS folder with your content.
Meet the characters
Aimasai
Inspired by Maasai jewellery and flowing, interconnected soapstone sculptures from Kenya.
Pamooji
Inspired by the horns of the African buffalo. 'Pamoja' in swahili means 'together'. 'moo' means 🐮
Imasunzu
Modelled on the spiky, Amasunzu hairstyles from Rwanda, traditionally worn by youth to display their romantic availability.
Pembooji
A legendary Africhibi, rumoured to be related to the Pamooji. It is said there is only one remaining in the wild 👀
An additional limited edition sculpture will be included in one buyer's package. They will receive the pamooji and digital artwork for it by Brian Njenga.
WHAT YOU GET
Each NFT includes...
Sculptures
- A set of 3 sculptures, hand-carved out of soapstone.
- Direct contact to the Kenyan artisan who made them.
- Order more for friends & family directly from the artisan.
Social Utilities
🙏🏼 Buyers directly support those who made the collection.
✅ Priority access to future drops.
🙌🏾 Community meetups.
⭐️ Buyer's name in exhibition at Nairobi Design Week 2023.
Digital Assets
- Unique artwork for your 3D model by one of 20+ artists.
- License to use the artwork commercially.
- Videos & Images - 3D renders & animations of your artwork to print, share, or use as you wish.
- 3D models rigged for animations (after launch).
Click to pause/play
MEET THE PEOPLE
Artists, designers and makers all directly benefit from the primary & secondary sales.
The Artists
Everyone involved will receive an equal share of royalties.
- Edmond Nonay
- Manjahi Njoroge
- David King'ori
- Mohamed Firozhusein
- Edwin Kapesa
- Mutura Kuria
- Denis Kamau
- Rahim Kara
- Felix Owaga
- Naitiemu
- Sophie Mwende
- Kevin Musau
- Alien River
- Brian Richu
- Brvinchild (Amos Onyango)
- Tracy A.O
- Joy Mala
- Brian Njenga
- Felix Tao
- Leo Letouze
- Joash Macenton
- Geoffrey Magana
- Agnes Opondo
- Adam Yawe
- Adrian Jankowiak
The Team
We're the team behind Nairobi Design Week, East Africa's most exciting design festival.
We're a small, doxxed team using our strengths to bring you something we're passionate about.
ADAM
Tech Lead
ADRIAN
Design Lead
AGNES
Community Manager
Africhibi
💚 All the digital artworks from the first collection (random mint).
👆 Select an Africhibi to read their story and open the lock 🔐 to access NFT gated content.
📫 Order your physical sculptures to be delivered.
Matt Jenkins
Talk to one of our sales agents:
Matt Jenkins
Talk to one of our sales agents:
- Edmond Nonay
I designed this Africhibi with pieces inspired by fashion, spirituality and balance. The lines flowing all over the back symbolize a sign of being connected to something, like the source or the 'universe'🌐
2. Edmond Nonay
I designed this Africhibi with pieces inspired by fashion, spirituality and balance. The circle symbolises wholeness.😇
3. Manjahi Njoroge
This piece is inspired by the interactions with different animals in nature. I spend a lot of time in nature, whether it's with the birds, snails and bees in the garden at home or out and about in the different national parks around the country. This consistent interaction leads to a connection with the spirit of the different animals and plants. I chose to paint this African chibi because the horns reminded me of the buffalo and feet reminded me of the elephant. I wanted the piece to embody the elements of earth, air, wind and water. I also wanted to capture the predator and prey relationships we see in the wild (The kingfisher and the fish). Finally, I also wanted camouflage to be represented because it is an adaptation that many animals use to survive in the wild. All the pictures used are from photographs I have taken.
4. David King’ori
An alien race called the Vex from the videogame Destiny
5. Adam Yawe
Imasunzu Africhibi with diamond chequered plate. Inspired by the stainless steel metal sheets used in construction. Often seen in Nairobi Matatus, but also in many different objects made by the Kenyan Jua Kali industry.
6. Mohammed Firozhusein
Señor Pamooji is a turtle-backed bull who lived in the wild west. He grew up in extreme poverty, and struggled his way up the social hierarchy using only his wit and balls of steel. Though calloused on the outside, Pamooji is deeply scarred from the inside. His emotional detachment allows him to keep a calm composure during the most nerve-wrecking situations. He is an icon of manliness, and his stoic nature teaches others to persevere during difficult times.
7. Edwin Kapesa
The beautiful scorching Sun shining upon the bull reminding us on why wildlife is still a big part of us.
8. Mutura Kuria
Africhibi - My Banana boxer bull on the red corner. Inspired by my love for bananas, I got a wild thought if my banana would be a fighter who will it fight? What will the fight be about and will it be a sweet fight? I present my banana boxer bull on the red corner. I hope it gets a worthy opponent and worthy cause to fight.
9. Denis Kamau
I was inspired by the maasai tribe of Kenya. They traditionally have a lot of aesthetic apparel and the prints as well as the beadwork on them is very pleasing. The lesso print is also a trait to be desired. I also wanted to incorporate the mask aesthetic of older times represented by the white linework. It was truly a fun experience to work on it.
10. Rahim Kara
Just having fun with this playful Pamooji Africhibi
11. Felix Owaga
The Chibi is inspired by comic and horror films. It is a reminder of those haunting childhood dreams and getting scared of the dark.
12. Naitiemu Nyanjom
Pamooji is a connection between our past, present and future. Everything is interconnected, and there is balance, harmony and continuity though this.
An emphasis on communion with nature and the people around us
13. Sophie Mwende
WHERE'S MY MIND?
14. Kevin Musau
Since I am not an artist in any way, my Africhibi is a simple guess work representation of the little creative juice flowing in me.
15. Brian Richu
I decided to do a 3D Africhibi version of myself without giving too much detail but by also adding a few features to make it spectacular without no one noticing it's a kind of Look-alike Figure of myself. That's the Uncle Brian Africhibi.
16. Amos Onyango - Brvinchild
My Africhibi is inspired by me and my personal brand. It represents my inner child and personality.
17. Tracy A.O
Showing raising awareness. It starts with being grounded (brown) and water (blue). Red is doubt & instability. Rises to desire & worth. Acting on desire (yellow). Love (green) & speak it (blue). Wisdom(purple). Balance of fire & wisdom (arms)
18. Joy Mala
My model represents valued elements in African Culture:
Gold-Head & Copper-Feet, a transmutation process from rawness to purity, both as a spiritual undertaking as well as constant self-improvement,
Concentric circles - community, &
Shapes & Patterns- symbolizing art and culture and play.
19. Adrian Jankowiak
Culture is about improvisation. Our textures overlap and the marks that we're left with tell our story.
20. Felix Tao
Boarders of Reality
I wanted to do something UV mapping based which still had some visual link to the origins of project. Where exploration and experimentation was high on the agenda, wanting to keep it simple with 2 colours - the placement of the pattern is considered up to a point.
The movie: Everything Everywhere All At Once, provided some inspiration as to how to give things life and also have it live within the multiverse.
21. Adam Yawe
An Aimasai chibi covered with leather upholstery often found in matatus, plastered with a blank version of the stickers that often have wisdom written in them.
22. Alien River
Inspired by mysticism and tribal identity - The teal in the centre represents the flow of energy, orange represents power centres and the red dots represent scarification. The snake-like images represent visionary states and transformation.
23. Adam Yawe
An old brick amasunzi chibi covered with the golden roots of a majestic strangler fig. The strangler fig (also known as the Mugumo tree in Kikuyu), is known for it’s ability to grow on other trees or physical objects, wrapping its roots tightly around the host.
24. Adrian and Naitiemu
We wanted to give the feeling of splashed paint. There’s a certain freedom, playfulness and genuineness that comes with being able to splash paint around, that we don’t often get to do in real life. Perhaps it’s the consequences of the cleanup?
25. Adrian and Naitiemu
It’s a stitched Aimasai that explores what other materials the Africhibis could be made out of! The fabric could be a trippy mix of traditional patterns with modern and futuristic features. Imagine how soft it could be!
26. Naitiemu Nyanjom
Life is about stitching together the different pieces, it’s not about perfection. Inspired by the wabi-sabi philosophy, like a patchwork of life experiences that make us who we are.
27. Adrian and Naitiemu
Feels like an alternate childhood, somewhere between the candy filled fairs, old cartoons, splashed paint and broken crayons.
28. Adrian and Naitiemu
Like points on a map, or threads in fabric, we all make an impact on some scale.
29. Adrian and Naitiemu
We wanted to give the feeling of splashed paint. There’s a certain freedom, playfulness and genuineness that comes with being able to splash paint around, that we don’t often get to do in real life. Perhaps it’s the consequences of the cleanup?
30. Adrian and Naitiemu
Secret smiles aren’t noticed by everyone. Those who deserve to, will see it.
31. Adrian and Naitiemu
Another bright day. Another day to learn and grow. Sometimes we have to button up, though really we should all just express ourselves.
32. Adrian and Naitiemu
Listen to your surroundings. Absorb what they provide. Don’t stay in a bubble. Connect with your environment. Be open to hearing new things.
33. Adrian and Naitiemu
This Africhibi offers a safe resting place to unburden, and remind ourselves that people aren’t always trying to spite us. A problem shared is half solved. Communicate and be open to other points of view.
34. Adrian and Naitiemu
Everyone has more than one side to show. Get to know them beyond the first one. Embrace the versions of yourself that make you who you are.
35. Adrian and Naitiemu
You have the power to beat your own drum, listen to nature’s rhythm, pay attention to your breathing.
36. Adrian Jankowiak
Sweet like chocolate and smooth like shea butter.
Whichever tribe you belong to, we are all meant to jell together, we are all human.
37. Adrian Jankowiak
Sometimes you just need to go to sleep and let a new day begin.
38. Adrian and Naitiemu
You have the power to beat your own drum, listen to nature’s rhythm, pay attention to your breathing.
39. Naitiemu Nyanjom
Trends are like waves. Think twice before you idolise.
LEARN MORE
🙋♂️Frequently Asked Questions
🤷🏽 Why & How Africhibi?
It all started as a physical collectible project to encourage self expression, with iterations of 3D printed prototypes to refine the form of each one. These were given to artists and friends for them to paint on. After giving people the opportunity to draw on animation frames of the characters, we realised we could provide the 3d models to be decorated too.
We switched to a digital project to give more people access to the models, and now we've come full circle by having those models sculpted out of soapstone.
Africhibi stands for:
Culture: Exchange of art, facts and stories, myths and legends.
Creativity: Sharing resources, tools, examples and stories of unique creativity.
🤔 What are Africhibi?
Africhibis came to earth to remind humanity what good it can do. They absorb the art styles and stories of those who interact with them.
- Each gen 1 character is inspired by African culture.
- Every NFT minted will receive an entire set of soapstone sculptures of the 3 characters (shipping/customs not included. Free shipping in Kenya.)
- Africhibi are available as 3D models for download.
⏰ Wen Africhibi?
August 2022.
🍬 Test mint Africhibi?
You can try a test mint.
#️⃣ How many Africhibis will be available?
There are 39 unique, digital, 1 of 1 artworks that come with the 3D files.
Each person mints an NFT on launch will be eligible to receive real sculptures of the entire set of 3. There will be 117 (3x39) sculptures, and you're welcome to order more sculptures directly from the artisan.
The sculptures will be documented so the originals can be verified through photo-matching.
💸 How much will they cost?
The price is 0.11 ETH.
🤩 What's special about Africhibi?
- They're HAND-MADE by an artisan, decorated by an artist and created by designers!
- Artists wallets are written into the smart contract.
- Artists will be fully credited for their artworks.
- Each artwork has been done manually by an artist. The art is are NOT auto generated.
- The buyer will have non-exclusive license to commercial rights (artists & Africhibi retain rights too).
👩🏾🎨 What do the artists get?
Primary Royalties
70% of primary royalties will be equally divided between the team, artists, designers and maker involved in the first collection.
30% of primary royalties will go to the Africhibi project.
Connection to Collectors
Secondary Royalties
70% of secondary royalties will go to the seller of the NFT.
21% of secondary royalties will be equally divided between the team, artists, designers and maker involved in the first collection.
9% of secondary royalties will go to the Africhibi project.
Connection to Community
⛓ Which blockchain are they on?
Ethereum blockchain. We trialed our own smart contract, and decided to use ThirdWeb to deploy the 1st collection in order to reduce gas fees.
📝 Press & Media enquiries?
Yes please, get in touch with us. Here's the press release.
Download the models
and share your creations!
Use the hashtag #africhibi on twitter and instagram.
The Africhibi 3D models are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.