Love, romance, relationships, religion, comedy, Poka Arts makes art that captures all these and more in his vivid illustrations and animation.

Peter Oti Asamoah, better known as Poka is an illustrator, comic book artist and animator from Ghana. He is arguably Ghana’s foremost animator, responsible for a good chunk of animated music videos from the country and West Africa.

Poka is responsible for the animated visuals for a number of artists including Jayso, Worlasi, Juls and Mr Eazi. In 2018, Poka’s simple but fun animation catapulted Akwaaba, Guilty Beatz’s sensational hit with Mr Eazi and Patapaa to phenomenal heights and even created an iconic dance. He has replicated this dance magic with Joeboy’s Beginning. Additionally, Poka created a series of animated visualizers for all of the songs on Mr Eazi’s Lagos to London album in 2018.

Animated Music Videos/Visualizers by Poka Arts

Animated music videos/visualizers Poka has worked on include:

• Beginning by Joeboy
• Baby by Joeboy
• Akwaaba by Guilty Beatz featuring Mr Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo
• Little Monsters by Jayso featuring Sarkodie
• Emotions by Runtown
• Booze High by Worlasi featuring Juls
• Odo Bra by J.Derobie
• Gwarn by Juls featuring Burna Boy
• Hey Lover by Olakira
• International Bad Man Killer by Runtown

Peter’s animations have screened at film festivals, including twice at Encounters Film Festival in Bristol (2018 & 2019) and the Accra Animation Film Festival in Acra (2019).

On the illustration front, Poka paints moments from everyday life that many people can relate to. His art revolves around different aspects of relationships – romance, family, friendships and religion.

Poka has also worked on a graphic novel adaptation of Kwaw Ansah’s Love Brewed in an African Pot drama. He also made the trailer for Tales of Hasan, an African 2D platformer by Trigger Pixels.

Poka has also worked on a number of children’s illustrated books such as Recipe for Light Soup, Big Welcome for Uncle Ransford, Close to Home (by Malaka Grant) and Our First Family Holiday. He was one of the illustrators whose work was displayed at the Bologna International Book Fair in 2013, curated by the Golden Baobab Prize.

Poka is currently working on his own animated series, Ato Bibinii, about a little boy, AB, navigating life as best as he can.

Enjoy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/sHgHOJqLQ7/

Check out more of Poka’s art on his Instagram and Facebook page. Sadly, he doesn’t have a website at this moment

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Bahari Blue is Squid Mag’s Kadi Yao Tay and Kofi Sydney Asare’s and illustrator Bolaji “Art Nerd X” Olaloye’s scrapbook of favourite African (including the diaspora sometimes) artists they love, are inspired by and believe the whole world needs to know about.

So far we’ve featured Alfred Achiampong, Venus Bambisa, Malcolm Wopé, Simangaliso Sibaya, Kofi Ofosu, Ifesinachi Orjiekwe, Kudzai Ngundu, Salim Busuru, Rodney Tawanda Ngundu and Juni Ba.

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