"Mama Africa"

(Loughborough Road Bridge)

In line with the aspiration to link each bridge to a different continent, 'Mama Africa' is the title given to the Africa bridge. Following on from the idea that humankind evolved in Africa, we came across the idea of Mitochondrial Eve. This scientific theory shows us that everyone alive today can trace their lineage, through the female line, using mitochondrial DNA, to a single woman in Africa. For more information about the science behind this click here.

We have completed Phase One of the project which was to paint the steelwork of the bridge. The bridge represents a time line from Mitochondrial Eve's time to the present with motifs interspersed around a 'family tree'. This phase has been a collaboration between 9 local artists.

We would like to extend our particular thanks to Daler Rowney www.daler-rowney.com, for their support in providing materials for this phase.

We are currently in the process of fundraising for Phase Two which will see artworks by a further 15 artists , many of them local to Loughborough Junction, but 5 of them from different countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where Mitochondrial Eve is most likely to have lived. These countries are South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

In this video Walter Reed explains the concept around the project in more detail:

Watch the making of the "Mama Africa" bridge here:

The artists workshops

Artists

Djina Jones
Djina Jones
Eileen Siley (EjsArt)
Eileen Siley (EjsArt) is a Southwark/Lambeth based artist. She returned to art in late December 2013, where she donated a piece of artwork called ‘Faces’ for the ‘Kings100auction’ to help raise funds for Kings College hospital, and has not looked back. Eileen’s work is an eclectic mix of different styles and genres. She prefers to work in monochrome; pencil or pen but, also uses acrylic, watercolour and pens.
Eileen Siley (EjsArt)
Eileen Siley (EjsArt) is a Southwark/Lambeth based artist. She returned to art in late December 2013, where she donated a piece of artwork called ‘Faces’ for the ‘Kings100auction’ to help raise funds for Kings College hospital, and has not looked back. Eileen’s work is an eclectic mix of different styles and genres. She prefers to work in monochrome; pencil or pen but, also uses acrylic, watercolour and pens.
Jasper Sutherland
Jasper is based in Camberwell and a designer at make:good, a design studio who work with communities to involve them in change in their area. He has a background in graphics, illustration and set design and enjoys working with pattern, letterforms and limited colour to create bold designs which have impact and meaning.
Jasper Sutherland
Jasper is based in Camberwell and a designer at make:good, a design studio who work with communities to involve them in change in their area. He has a background in graphics, illustration and set design and enjoys working with pattern, letterforms and limited colour to create bold designs which have impact and meaning.
Leo Verryt
New Zealander living in London for 35 years.  Degrees in Design and in Architecture. Currently working from a studio in South East London.
Leo Verryt
New Zealander living in London for 35 years.  Degrees in Design and in Architecture. Currently working from a studio in South East London.
Natu Bisset
Hauwa "Natu" Bisset was born in Northern Nigeria and came to London at the age of 17. Always loving drawing from a young age with a vivid imagination, as well as working with hands, digging the earth, in interior design and landscaping. Travelling is another passion, experiencing different cultures, arts and language. Working within the "Mama Africa" Bridge has been a dream come true, as her love for Brixton started on the day she stepped up in Electric Avenue and in 1999 she moved in Brixton.
Natu Bisset
Hauwa "Natu" Bisset was born in Northern Nigeria and came to London at the age of 17. Always loving drawing from a young age with a vivid imagination, as well as working with hands, digging the earth, in interior design and landscaping. Travelling is another passion, experiencing different cultures, arts and language. Working within the "Mama Africa" Bridge has been a dream come true, as her love for Brixton started on the day she stepped up in Electric Avenue and in 1999 she moved in Brixton.
Pierre LeBoulanger
Pierre LeBoulanger
Polly Richards
Polly Richards
Zoran Nicic
Zoran Nicic
Walter G. Reed
As well as instigating the 7 Bridges project Walter G. Reed has been working in various media for many years, from photography, to film, Augmented Reality, conceptual art and music. He's co-director at Ion Products, a multi-media company in London.
Walter G. Reed
As well as instigating the 7 Bridges project Walter G. Reed has been working in various media for many years, from photography, to film, Augmented Reality, conceptual art and music. He's co-director at Ion Products, a multi-media company in London.