Matheus Marques Abu, a self-taught artist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, explores ancestry, spirituality, and the African diaspora through his evocative paintings. Influenced by the Rio de Janeiro rap scene and his early work in pixo (graffiti), Abu's art reflects on the colonial history and its impact on racialised individuals. During the pandemic, his discovery of Adinkra symbols, brought to Brazil by enslaved people, enriched his work with themes of communication and resistance. Abu's vibrant brushstrokes and intricate symbolism challenge Eurocentric histories, capturing the resilience of the African diaspora and interweaving past and present narratives.