Explore every episode of the podcast Kutimba With Siima
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toussaint Davy: D'Angelo, Brown Sugar Album Cover | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:42:25 | |
Today marks one year since the passing of D’Angelo, a generational artist whose music continues to resonate. In his memory, this week’s episode revisits the cover of his 1995 debut album, Brown Sugar. I’m joined by Toussaint Davy, former deputy editor of Touch Magazine, for a closer look at the image’s intimacy and the quiet cool it evokes. We discuss how the cover departed from the ways Black male musicians were visually marketed at the time, before placing it in conversation with the rest of D’Angelo’s album artwork. Order Toussaint's book here Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Toussaint Davy Theme Song: Plastic - Ryan James Carr Podcast Cover Artwork: Ian Mwesiga Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ | |||
| Robert Pruitt: Sun Ra, The Nubians of Plutonia (Impulse! reissue) Album Cover | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:44:28 | |
Visual artist Robert Pruitt joins me to unpack the 1974 Impulse! reissue cover of Sun Ra's The Nubians of Plutonia. We explore the connections between Sun Ra's Afrofuturist cosmology and Robert's own visual world. Our conversation ranges from Black futurism and myth-making to representation and the enduring question of what freedom might actually look like. Learn more about Robert's work here Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Robert Pruitt Story editing and advising: Allison Behringer Theme Song: Plastic - Ryan James Carr Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ | |||
| Mazzi Odu: Diana Ross, Diana Album Cover | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:51:03 | |
This week, I sit down with writer, editor, and cultural consultant Mazzi Odu to unpack the cover for Diana Ross' 1980 album, Diana. It’s an image that captured a turning point in both Diana’s personal and professional life. We break down the cover's visual language: the lowercase mononym typeface, the confident, unsmiling gaze, the wet-slicked hair standing in for her signature curls, and the borrowed jeans. Along the way, we get into the album's deep ties to disco and queer culture, and how this single image became a blueprint, echoed decades later by Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, and Taraji P. Henson. Subscribe to Mazzi's Substack here Read Mazzi's writing about jewellery here Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Mazzi Odu Story Editing and Advising: Christina M. Tapper Theme Song: Plastic - Ryan James Carr Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ | |||
| Thomas Hobbs : Tupac, The Don Killuminati: The 7-Day Theory (Makaveli) | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:36:34 | |
Welcome to Season Two! In this episode, culture journalist Thomas Hobbs joins me to discuss one of hip-hop's most recognisable album covers: Tupac Shakur's The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Thomas reflects on his lifelong connection to Tupac's music. We explore how Tupac used album art to build his iconography and why this image remains unmatched in the rapper's visual legacy. We also unpack the legal battle over the album cover art and what it reveals about the politics of ownership in the music industry. Read Thomas' interview with Riskie here. Read Thomas' interview with Chi Modu here. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Thomas Hobbs Story Editing and Advising: Allison Behringer Theme Song: Plastic - Ryan James Carr Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Brent Rollins: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star | 23 Mar 2025 | 00:29:51 | |
This week, I'm excited to host the design titan Brent Rollins. He’s an artist, art director, designer, author, and TV producer. Brent is known for creating the logos for films like John Singleton's Boyz N the Hood and Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. His design prowess extends to album covers for legendary artists such as Gang Starr, Blackalicious, and Dilated Peoples. Our conversation centers on his work for the cover of the Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Blackstar album. Brent discusses the mission of the Ego Trip Collective and explains how his role as the collective’s art director led to the opportunity to design the Blackstar album cover. We explore how he masterfully integrated Eddie Otchere’s photographs into the cover design and the references that catalyzed his creative vision. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Brent Rollins Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Eddie Otchere: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:27:21 | |
I sit down with legendary photographer Eddie Otchere. He’s known for photographing icons like The Notorious B.I.G., The Fugees, and So Solid Crew. Our conversation explores the creation of the album artwork for Black Star’s 1998 debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Eddie shares behind-the-scenes stories from his photoshoot with Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli. We also discuss Eddie’s views on contemporary rappers and his vision for the visuals of Black Star’s follow-up album. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Eddie Otchere Story editing and advising: Allison Behringer of Rough Cut Collective Order the Spirit Behind The Lens here. Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Tee Max: Madonna, Ray of Light | 21 Feb 2025 | 00:21:32 | |
In the final part of my conversation with British photographer and documentarian Tee Max, we explore the album cover of Madonna's Ray of Light. We dive into the backstory behind the cover art, discuss why Tee considers it a remarkable image, and reflect on Madonna's extraordinary ability to reinvent herself. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Tee Max Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Capturing Icons: Tee Max on Music Photography | 14 Feb 2025 | 00:39:09 | |
This week photographer and documentarian Tee Max joins me for a conversation about music photography. Tee's striking black-and-white portraits depict several Hip Hop and R&B icons, including Beyoncé, Da Brat, Notorious B.I.G, and OutKast during their early years. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Tee Max Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Sydney Urbanek: Beyoncé (self-titled) | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:47:34 | |
Friday, December 13, 2013 - everyone remembers exactly where they were. Beyoncé shocked the world with the surprise release of her self-titled album, flipping the industry on its head. Writer Sydney Urbanek joins me to unpack the Beyoncé album cover and how it defies societal expectations surrounding Black women performers. We explore the evolution of typography across Beyoncé’s album covers and the lasting influence of the self-titled cover on her visual identity. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Sydney Urbanek Read A Moving-Image History of Parkwood Entertainmenthere. Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email:kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Charisse Kenion: Grace Jones, Nightclubbing | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:41:51 | |
Journalist and photographer Charisse Kenion joins me to discuss Grace Jones’ Nightclubbing (1981) album cover. We unpack the complex dynamic between Grace and her longtime collaborator, Jean-Paul Goude, the visionary behind the image. Our conversation also explores androgyny, the agency and complexity of Black women, and more. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Charisse Kenion Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Larry Ossei-Mensah: Sade, Love Deluxe | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:36:44 | |
I dissect Sade's Love Deluxe album cover art with curator and cultural critic Larry Ossei-Mensah. He explains how the image embodies self-love. Together, we explore how the Love Deluxe cover departs from typical portrayals of the band’s lead singer, Sade Adu. Additionally, Larry and I discuss the “Sade Girl Aesthetic” on social media. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Larry Ossei-Mensah Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Shadé Freeland: Toni Braxton (Self-titled) | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:21:44 | |
I usher in a new era with Shadé Freeland! She shares why Toni Braxton’s celebrated 1993 self-titled album cover resonates deeply. We explore Toni’s portrayal of femininity, Shadé’s platform ‘THE BLK PRSPCTV’ and the importance of recognising album cover art at music award shows. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Shadé Freeland THE BLK PRSPCTV: https://www.theblkprspctv.com/ Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ IG: @kutimbawithsiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Shifting Gears | 25 Oct 2024 | 00:08:54 | |
Hello everyone! It’s been a while! I’ve been restructuring the show, and I'll return this November with new episodes. In this episode, I explain how the show will evolve. Welcome to the new era of Kutimba With Siima! | |||
| How Music and Dance Influence Claudette Johnson | 28 Jun 2024 | 00:26:57 | |
Claudette Johnson is a leading figurative artist based in London. Her large-scale works challenge the erasure and misrepresentations of Black subjects, particularly Black women. In the 1980s, she co-founded the BLK Art Group, a collective of young Black artists who explored race, gender, and the politics of representation. In 1982, the BLK Art Group organized the First National Black Art Convention at Wolverhampton Polytechnic. Johnson's lecture on the portrayal of Black female figures in Western art, the only presentation by a female artist, was a pivotal moment that propelled the Black feminist art movement in the UK. Music and dance have always been integral to Johnson's practice as inspiration and subject matter. She discusses the impact of jazz and Miles Davis’ "Kind Of Blue" on her art. Johnson fondly recalls how the dance parties she attended growing up were a source of joy and affirmed her Afro-Carribean identity. She also explains the recurring use of blue in her works. Subscribe to the Kutimba With Siima newsletter for a playlist inspired by Johnson and current exhibition listings. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Claudette Johnson Story editing and advising: Allison Behringer of Rough Cut Collective Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| James Barnor: The Photographer Who Captured Six Decades of Change | 17 Jun 2024 | 00:46:23 | |
On June 6th, 2024, James Barnor celebrated his 95th birthday! This pioneering Ghanaian-British photographer is known for his work in photojournalism and studio portraiture. He was Ghana’s first newspaper photographer and the visionary behind the country’s first color processing lab. Barnor’s photographs document life in Ghana as the nation transitioned to independence. In the 1970s, Barnor moved to London, where he captured the multiplicity of Black diasporan life. As a freelance photographer for Drum magazine, Barnor shot covers, fashion editorials, and current events. In 2021, I spoke with Barnor during his first retrospective at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Our conversation explored various aspects of his life and career. We discussed his experiences in teaching and police photography and how his family played a pivotal role in shaping his career as a photographer. Barnor shared anecdotes about his encounters with Ghana's first Prime Minister, Kwame Nkrumah, the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, and Ghanian Opposition Leader J.B Danquah. Subscribe to the Kutimba With Siima newsletter to hear Barnor discuss his favourite photograph. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: James Barnor Story editing and advising: Allison Behringer of Rough Cut Collective Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| How Gospel Music Influenced Brandy's "Full Moon" album with Mel Smith | 12 Mar 2024 | 00:39:50 | |
This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Brandy's iconic album, Full Moon,! Her mesmerizing vocal runs and innovative vocal stacking on the album revolutionized vocal arrangement, earning her the moniker, "The Vocal Bible." I'm joined by award-winning songwriter, producer, culture journalist, music historian, and music executive, Mel Smith, to delve into the influence of gospel music on both the vocals and production of Full Moon. We discuss how gospel singer Kim Burrell's Everlasting Life album impacted Brandy's vocal evolution and expanded her vocal range. Additionally, we explore how producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, incorporates elements from the church into the album's production, the pivotal role of LaShawn Daniels in the vocal production process, and how Full Moon transformed the gospel music genre. Lastly, we talk about why Full Moon is an afro-futuristic work. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Mel Smith Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Building an Art Collection that Reflects My Values with Winnie Byanyima | 08 Feb 2024 | 01:15:49 | |
I am thrilled to kick off Season Two with Winnie Byanyima! She is widely recognised for her tireless advocacy for social justice and gender equality. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of UNAIDS. We shift focus from her professional endeavours to explore one of her deepest passions – art. For the first time, Winnie opens up about her profound love for art and building her remarkable collection. She recounts her initial encounters with art, underscoring its role in expressing her African identity. Winnie tells me about unlearning Eurocentric notions about art and the notable artists represented in her collection. She leaves us with invaluable advice about collecting art. Host: Siima Itabaaza Editing: Wana Benjamin Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com IG: @kutimbawithsiima | |||
| On the 'Grandma Rule', Hyper-masculinity in food and the Delights of plant-based cooking with Alicia Kennedy | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:35:20 | |
In the season finale, I am joined by Alicia Kennedy, a food and culture writer from New York. She is the creator of From The Desk of Alicia Kennedy, a weekly newsletter covering food culture, media, and politics. Alicia's first book, titled No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating, was released in August 2023. During our discussion, we dissect On the 'Grandma Rule, a newsletter edition in which Alicia utilises the late chef Anthony Bourdain’s concept of the Grandma Rule to explore topics such as culinary tourism, food media, and personal choices regarding food. Alicia and I delve into navigating projections from omnivores, abstaining from cooking as a form of protest against patriarchy, the ways plant-based eating has enhanced her culinary skills, and the prevailing dominance of restaurant chefs as arbiters of food trends. | |||
| Papermaking and Materials as Witnesses with Kelly Taylor Mitchell | 09 Dec 2023 | 00:42:47 | |
Kelly Taylor Mitchell is an artist and educator living and working in Atlanta, GA. Her multidisciplinary practice centers oral history and ancestral memory, real and imagined, woven into the fabric of the Africana Diaspora. Kelly's work is deeply invested in labor intensive making, slowness, and home-spun passed down processes. We discussed how she conceptualizes and creates her pieces, the significance of food and materials, and rooting her artistic practice in celebration and joy. Host: Siima Itabaaza Editing: Wana Benjamin Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/KutimbaWithSiima Dieu Donné: https://www.dieudonne.org/ | |||
| The African Lookbook with Catherine E. McKinley | 28 Oct 2023 | 00:50:05 | |
Today's guest is Catherine E. Mckinley, a curator and author of four critically acclaimed books, most recently The African Lookbook: A Visual History of 100 Years of African Women, which won the inaugural Eiger Foundation Prize for Best African Photobook. An exploration of Africa's photographic history, fashion, trade history, and African women's selfhood, the book features works from The McKinley Collection, her personal archive representing African photographies from 1870 to the present. Works from The McKinley Collection have been shown in international museums and galleries. She lives in New York City.
Host: Siima Itabaaza Editing: Wana Benjamin Patreon: patreon.com/KutimbaWithSiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||
| Africa Fashion at The Brooklyn Museum with Ifeanyi Awachie | 13 Oct 2023 | 01:18:51 | |
Welcome to Kutimba With Siima! In the Premiere Episode, I'm joined by Ifeanyi Awachie to review the landmark Africa Fashion exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Ifeanyi is a Nigeria-born, Atlanta-raised writer, curator, filmmaker, and scholar. Africa Fashion is the largest-ever exhibition charting the global impact of African fashions from the 1950s to date. The exhibition, first shown at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last year, features over forty designers and artists from Africa and its diasporas. Over 180 items, including garments, sketches, catwalk footage and music, depict how Africa’s influential sartorial language has been crafted. We discuss how we felt about certain curatorial decisions, what we enjoyed and disliked, what we would have done differently, the legacies of the exhibition and more. Host: Siima Itabaaza Editing: Wana Benjamin Patreon: patreon.com/KutimbaWithSiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com | |||