bana-ba-dinaledi

Telling African Stories using Generative AI Art

Context

African spirituality and indigenous knowledge systems have often been marginalized in global digital and artistic spaces. Traditional practices like those of Sangomas (South African traditional healers) risk being lost or misunderstood as societies modernize. Meanwhile, emerging technologies like generative AI present new opportunities for cultural preservation and reimagination. Personal connections to these traditions—as demonstrated through the creator’s sister’s spiritual journey—highlight the importance of reframing understandings of African spirituality for contemporary audiences. There exists a significant opportunity to bridge traditional African spiritual practices with futuristic digital expressions, creating new narratives that honor ancestral wisdom while embracing technological innovation.

Approach

The Bana Ba Dinaledi project employed a multi-faceted approach combining AI generation with 3D virtual world-building:

Text-to-Image Generation: Midjourney AI was utilized to create concept art and a collection of 50 artworks based on carefully crafted prompts centered around futuristic interpretations of Sangomas, such as “Sangoma on a Hoverboard.” This process transformed textual descriptions into visual representations that blend traditional African spirituality with science fiction elements.

Virtual World Creation: Unity Game Engine was employed to build 10 interconnected virtual worlds where the AI-generated artworks are displayed. These environments leverage real-time 3D rendering to create immersive spaces for viewers to engage with the artwork collection.

Cultural Symbolism: The project intentionally incorporated culturally significant elements, most notably the flying Siyaya Taxi as a portal between virtual worlds. This design choice draws a powerful parallel to the real-world significance of these taxis in South African townships, where they transport people between different socioeconomic realities—making them perfect metaphorical vessels for interdimensional travel in the virtual space.

Output

Bana Ba Dinaledi has produced a comprehensive digital art experience that reimagines African spirituality in a futuristic context. Set in 2043, the narrative envisions Sangomas as multi-planetary beings who consult with different entities under the stars, interpreting celestial intelligence to heal troubled souls—hence their characterization as “Children of the Stars.”

The project successfully created and deployed 50 AI-generated artworks across 10 navigable virtual worlds, all accessible through the Monaverse platform. Visitors can explore these spaces and transition between them via the iconic flying Siyaya Taxi, experiencing a unique blend of traditional African spirituality and futuristic digital expression.

Beyond the immediate artistic output, Bana Ba Dinaledi demonstrates the potential of generative AI as a fundamental tool for conceptualizing and sharing previously untold African stories. The project creators have identified additional applications for these technologies, including BariumAI and AI Material Designer, which could further enhance virtual world-building with African cultural elements in future work. This experimental approach positions the intersection of AI and immersive media as a powerful medium for cultural preservation, reimagination, and expression.

Credit

Web Developer
Sihle Ntshangase