About Annanasi

Hi! Thank you so much for making your way to my page.

As a child, 'ananasi' was my nickname and it simply means pineapple in Luganda. It is also my favourite fruit, not just for its sweet taste but for standing tall and wearing a crown - it's my motivation, and Annanasi.com is the home of many of my creative expressions.

I love to paint and sew and make meaningful creations with my hands. I especially enjoy creating pieces that reflect culture and identity.

Growing up as a mixed child and living in many parts of Africa I often struggled to define my roots. I often felt torn between my two homelands, Denmark and Uganda, and always missed the country I was leaving behind, when I travelled to visit family or stayed in one place for a longer time.

As I grew older I found my base in Denmark and learnt to appreciate Africa from a distance. But after having my daughter it became even more important to me, to keep the African part of us alive and to also engage in cultural engagements with fellow Africans.

I realised I could fill the void by allowing our African side to be included into our everyday modern life, and find ways to express it equally with our otherwise loose "popular cultural choices". For example, I never paid it a thought that every greeting card I ever received only displayed my European heritage. So I wanted to make it just as natural to have cards available displaying my African heritage.

I knew that these small inclusive steps of diversity would make a difference for my daughter, but hopefully also make it more common to receive illustrations displaying all kinds of identities.

With cards followed my ABC posters, more cards and illustrations, and also wearable items such as beaded bracelets and accessories in African Wax print fabrics.

In that way, Annanasi.com has become an expression of identity for anybody who needs it to be visible in any form, as I've come to find, that defining identity is so important. Whether you are one identity, mixed, adopted or simply left your heart on the other side of the earth... Having a sense of belonging to a place, people or culture is crucial to our wellbeing. 

My creative outlet is primarily Nordic and African and I know that there are many out there with this same heritage background, that will specifically enjoy many of my creations, but my aim eventually is to express identities from all corners of the earth.

I hope that you will enjoy my creations and find something that makes your heart smile :-)

/ Anna