Mirrors, Iron, and Stone Conjure Ancestral Healing in Olayami Dabls' Detroit Museum

"With MBAD, Dabls decided to honor ancestral creation and directed his energy to fulfilling 'a need in our community to offer a true experience, free of European constructs and manipulation that furthers cultural differences.' He focused not on entertainment or profit but rather on the healing power of creation."

"What emerged was a massive outdoor project spanning two blocks at the corner of Grand River and West Grand Boulevard. Comprised of dozens of assemblages and installations, MBAD focuses on four materials common throughout formerly industrial Detroit: iron, stone, wood, and mirrored glass. Each had a spiritual power, too."

"Nkisi are objects inhabited by spirits, a concept that originated in the Congo Basin and was brought to the Americas with the transatlantic slave trade. Covered in mirrored shards, painted panels, and other found objects, 'Nkisi House' is both an alluring structure and a divine invitation."

Olayami Dabls distinguished material culture from fine art while working at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in the 1970s. Recognizing that museum collections were often viewed through a colonial, European lens with fear and misunderstanding, Dabls founded MBAD African Bead Museum in 1994. The museum aims to reintroduce African culture and healing into the Detroit community, free from European constructs. MBAD spans two blocks at Grand River and West Grand Boulevard, featuring dozens of assemblages and installations using iron, stone, wood, and mirrored glass—materials common to formerly industrial Detroit. Each material carries spiritual significance: iron and stone connect to bodies and Earth, mirrors reflect spiritually, and wood embodies tree strength. The "Nkisi House" exemplifies this work, drawing on Congo Basin spiritual concepts brought through the transatlantic slave trade. Dabls views public art as an underutilized healing mode in Western cultures.

Read at Colossal