Zeinixx
The First
Graffiti in Senegal has a community feel. It’s not simply about making your mark felt. You rarely see tags. There is no current of rebellious backlash against the proverbial ‘man’. Instead it is a welcoming scene. I met with Zeinixx, the first female writer in Dakar, to get some perspective on graffiti in this energetic city.
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What is your name?
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When I was a teen, I saw myself as being Leonardo Da Vinci or Pablo Picasso. I was 14 or 15 years old when I started painting. I consider myself self-taught having never been to a fine art school. When I received my pocket money at the end of the month, I would buy equipment instead of buying jeans, shoes or make-up like other girls. I preferred to buy materials. It’s my passion, I love to paint. If I’m painting then I’m fine.
Graffiti I discovered watching TV. I saw guys in front of a wall with funny pumps. Then suddenly from nowhere came a painting. I said to myself, “Why not try this?” Having a larger canvas that’s big like a wall, that’s my thing! I asked a friend who told me, ‘Go see Graffixx. He’s at Africulturban.’ After school one day I went along to Africulturban and asked after Graffixx, and I said, ‘Hello I want to do graffiti.’ ” [laughs]
«When I was a teen, I saw myself as being Leonardo Da Vinci »
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From the beginning, because when you start doing something you unconsciously develop your own style. It’s a school where you go through stages. Since I started I have been perfecting my own style, Maybe at some points I had a slower pace. Here, it is easy to doubt yourself, “Will I stop? I will stop… No I will continue.” Apart from that kind of moment, I’m always perfecting my work. Whether on a wall, shoes, a blackboard or in my blackbook. I’m constantly practicing.
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My ambition is to see young women express themselves. Not to see women who want to do what I do, but can’t. Either for practical reasons or simply because that they are afraid. Because they are told that a woman’s place is at home in the kitchen. Or educating children, taking care of the family. It’s really beyond graffiti, it’s beyond hip hop. My ambition is to see women be able to perform in any field they want to move forward.
