From a young age, Rabi found an interest in various forms of expression ranging from garment and jewellery making, street dance, music and visual art. She was primarily trained in two Hip Hop elements, breaking and DJing, within her community in Toronto. A major shift in her artistic practice came with her long-term move to Amsterdam in 2018, where she started drawing. Having left Guinea as a child and now being away from everything and everyone that is familiar forced her to look inward. Putting pencil to paper, she started releasing difficult emotions before moving forward to exploring the layers of her identity throught this art form. What was first a means for personal relief, became a public and intentional display of presence. Rabi embraced this phase of her creative journey and all the opportunities that it would offer.

Art enabled Rabi to expand her range of practices and the ways she shares her perspectives. Recognizing the depth of the human experience and the richness of her culture, she uses her voice, academically and creatively, to express her reflections. It is with this drive and energy that Rabi is able to make meaningful connections and grow with like-minded people globally. 


Education

Studied under:
Mariano (Glizzi) Abarca
David Forteau
Judi (JuLo) Lopez
Souphaphone (Soupy) Souphammanychanh
Dr. Mary Fogarty
Andel (BBad) James
Richard (Mo Jakob) Nazier
Franky Sticks
Kirsten Camara
Sammy (Samo) Soto
Nana (Lyricx) Tuffour Okai


Exhibitions 

2024 JAYU Festival of the Arts, JAYU, Toronto (group)
2024 Making Space, Flower Therapy Mental Wellness Studio, Accra (solo) 
2022 Black Achievement Awards - Opening Show, DeLaMar Theatre, Amsterdam (group)
2022 commUnion, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (group) 
2022 BOOKMARK / FROM PRINT TO PERFORMANCE, Refuge Worldwide, Berlin (group)
2020 Art & Identity: Diaspora Voices, Tante Toorop, Amsterdam (group)


Collections
Tante Toorop, Amsterdam
Foundation Amsterdam Hip Hop Center, Amsterdam
Private collection, Amsterdam
Private collection, Amsterdam


Bibliography

bahati. father tongues. June 2023.

Sam, Benjamin. “On confronting mental health as black men”. Lilith Magazine, 18 September 2021.

Boone, Nekeia. JT & Mason Save the Day. 3 July 2020.

Bah, Aïssatou. Black Girl Shine. 29 February 2020.



contact: info@soulababe.com