Contest to give new visual identity to Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

“The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent is rapidly becoming a driving force for the consolidation of an international agenda for, and led by, communities of African descent. And yet, much more needs to be done to ensure recognition, justice and development,” said UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, in a message to celebrate the International Day for People of African Descent.

One of the ways the UN Permanent Forum is working to better acknowledge the contributions of People of African descent is by opening a competition to African artists and artists of African descent to design its new visual identity.

The Permanent Forum was established in August 2021 as a consultative mechanism and a platform to improve the safety and quality of life of people of African descent. It also acts as an advisory body to the UN Human Rights Council and in coordination with other UN bodies that work to combat racism against people of African descent.

As a newly established organ, the Permanent Forum requires a recognizable symbol that effectively conveys the essence of the people it represents.

“I truly hope this logo represents a vision of a possible future for Afro-diasporic people,” said Brendon Reis, a self-taught visual artist from Brazil and one of the five members of the jury for the competition.

For experts sitting on the Permanent Forum and member of the competition’s jury, holding a public process to define its visual identity demonstrates the importance of involving communities of African descent in decision-making processes that concern them, to promote a sense of community, ownership and inclusivity.

“Opening the contest to artists of the African diaspora was essential because it allows for an authentic representation of our diverse cultures, histories, and experiences,” said Rockyath Adechoubou, the founder of Auction for Change, also a member of the competition’s jury.

"Artists who are part of the diaspora bring a unique, lived perspective that is vital for a project like this. This contest is not just about design; it’s about narrative, connection, and cultural expression."

— Rockyath Adechoubou

Adechoubou’s organization brings social impact and art together to foster change and amplify marginalized voices. The competition is not only about creating a logo, she added, but also “crafting a symbol that embodies the resilience, strength and unity of people of African descent globally.”

For Reis, it was also important to adopt a decentralized approach to break with already established visual standards, when seeking to create a new visual identity for the Permanent Forum.

“I believe that any creative initiative needs to have social involvement with the community, making the debate plural and more connected with the multiple discussions that take place when we talk about any kind of identity,” Reis added.

Giving her final thoughts on what the new logo would represent for people of African descent, Adechoubou said she hopes it will serve as a powerful symbol of pride, unity, and recognition for people of African descent that encapsulate their shared history, our ongoing struggles and boundless potential.

“The logo should not only be a representation of our past but also a beacon for our future—a reminder that our contributions to the world are invaluable, and our stories are integral to the global narrative,” she added.

The competition was launched on the International Day of People of African Descent, 31 August 2024, and will close on 1 November 2024. It is opened to artists of all ages. The winning entry will be announced in January 2025 and the winner will be invited to participate in the fourth session of the Permanent Forum in April 2025.

About the Jury

The jury for the competition comprises representatives of two UN entities, the Permanent Forum, with the participation of its Chairperson, June Summer, and the UN Department of Global Communications.

In addition, five artists of African descent have volunteered to be on the jury panel.

Rockyath Adechoubou is a catalyst for innovation, seamlessly blending entrepreneurship, content strategy, and sustainability advocacy into a career that defies convention. With roots and experience spanning Africa—from the vibrant streets of Dakar to the cultural richness of Johannesburg—Rockyath has also made her mark in global hubs like New York, Tokyo, and Melbourne. This diverse international exposure enriches her work in politics, art curation, and non-profit leadership with a unique, cross-cultural perspective that few can rival.

Babatunde ‘TRIBE’ Akande is a nonbinary multidisciplinary artist and Creative Expressionist known for their proficiency in drawing /painting, sculpting, augmented reality (AR) installation, performance, sound, photography and experimental / documentary films in Lagos, Nigeria. They use these mediums to craft multisensory immersive experiences with the intention to evoke emotions and questioning. They are dedicated to extensive research, experiments, and ceaseless artistic exploration, they navigate the delicate balance between tradition and liberation within the sacred intimacy and complexities of identity. Exploring the intersections of social injustice, community and identity, gender equality, queerness, indigenous ancestry, environmental sustainability, and human connectivity is a hallmark of their diverse artistic practice. Babatunde Tribe's journey has transformed into a powerful platform for advocacy and social change. Their work is characterized by a thought-provoking blend of personal narrative, social commentary, and a dedication to exploring themes of intersectionality and minority rights. Babatunde's art has been showcased at the International Art Contest for Minority Artists Exhibition at OHCHR, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

Cierra Brinson is the designer of Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). SPLC is a major civil society organization battling racial and social injustice. Their work is mostly focus on the South of the United States as it was founded in the 70s to dismantle the vestiges of Jim Crow. Brinson is a photographer, hand letterer and award-winning graphic designer. She has worked as a professional graphic designer for five years with a multitude of experience in layout design, event design, brand design, social media design and much more! In addition to graphic design, she shoots photography with an emphasis on portraiture and works on perfecting her signature hand-lettering style. When she’s not designing, she’s either picking up a new hobby or listening to music. She is an Alabama native currently living in Montgomery, AL.

Brendon Reis is a self-taught visual artist. He lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil. In his work, Brendon Reis seeks to emphasize blackness, sexuality and intimacy, in addition to the symbolic dilemmas involved in the multiple ways of giving meaning to what is understood as “existence”. This concept of existence in Brendon's work occurs through the creation of ambivalent constitutive spaces, that is, sometimes common and sometimes surreal, where he delicately explores the concepts of “natural” and “supernatural” to give new textures and different realities to figures - black, queer, dissident narratives. His main media are painting and sculpture. The themes most present in his research involve subjective and intersubjective contradictions, such as perception and the imaginary, the spectacular and the ordinary, the secret and the enlightened. Through a dual journey between abstractionism and figurativism, Brendon Reis seeks to create an imaginary that references the symbolism of visible and sentimental things, in addition to the subject's relationship with space - time, especially to work with themes that are transversal to his experience, some of them being intimacy, melancholy, sexuality, the body, identity, homosexuality and affirmation.

Kim Thompson is a multi-disciplinary Black British artist, specialising in commercial illustration and contemporary painting. Her commercial work has led to collaboration with clients such as Converse, Columbia, Records, Diageo and Penguin Random House. Now in the first few years of her contemporary practice, Kim has exhibited with The Saatchi Gallery, winning the Robert Walters UKNA 'New Artist of the Year' Runner Up Prize (2023). Kim's first solo portraiture collection, 'Water into Wine', is currently on view at New Art Exchange, a contemporary gallery in Nottingham, UK.

How to Apply

Visit: www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent/competition-announcement

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This story was first published by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.