Energy in Business, Love, and Community
In Business: Entrepreneurs often confuse grinding with growing. Evaluate where your sweat equity is being used to prop up dead weight instead of scalable systems. Focus on lean, responsive, regenerative business models.
In Love: Romantic energy should be replenishing, not exhausting. If your partnership feels like a system with poor ROI, step back. Honest love should circulate energy, not hoard it.
In Community: Be wary of environments that use your voice, labor, or presence without honoring your contribution. Empowered communities distribute energy through shared values and collective action, not codependency.
In Friendship: A true friend multiplies energy. If you feel consistently drained or misaligned, you’re misinvested. It's okay to love someone and still protect your energy.
Spotting the Vultures
Not everyone around you is a partner. Some are vultures. They circle your potential, feast on your goodwill, and leave only after the carcass of your enthusiasm has been picked clean.
Spot them by:
Consistent need but no reciprocity
Flattery when they need something; absence when you need them
Disinterest in your growth beyond their benefit
The AfriKin Lens: Cultural Systems of Energy
At AfriKin, our work in art, culture, and consciousness is about reconnecting people to sustainable systems of value. We honor the ancestral wisdom of energy exchange, where community, creativity, and consciousness are currencies that regenerate.
AfriKin invests in the culture of meaningful collaboration. That means investing in artists who reflect truth, in communities that nurture potential, and in dialogues that deepen awareness. We model what it means to create value without exploitation—to circulate energy and opportunity in ways that lift many.
Building a New System of Energy Mastery
Audit Weekly – Track where your energy goes and what yields it brings.
Establish Boundaries – Guard your energy like a resource. Because it is.
Diversify Investments – Place your time in people and projects with exponential potential.
Exit Strategically – Let go with love when something no longer gives life.
Reinvest Intentionally – Into art, people, and ideas that echo your values.
You Are the System
When you begin to honor your energy, you reprogram the systems around you. You stop chasing low-yield returns in business and in life. You design complexity that works for you, not against you.
And you begin to live not just efficiently—but powerfully.
In the spirit of honoring the cycles of life, love, and legacy, I would like to share a personal reflection that complements our recent discussion on energy investment and the importance of surrounding ourselves with reciprocal relationships.
This past weekend was a profound tapestry of emotions. On Saturday, I had the joy of witnessing my youngest sister walk down the aisle, a radiant bride embarking on a new chapter. Seeing her all grown up, stepping into her future with grace and confidence, was a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the beauty of life's milestones.
The following day, Mother's Day, I spent cherished moments with my mother, basking in her warmth, laughter, and unwavering love. Her energy is a wellspring that nourishes my soul, reinforcing the significance of nurturing relationships that truly invest in us.
Amidst these personal celebrations, we also faced a collective loss. Our dear friend and esteemed art curator, Koyo Kouoh, transitioned this weekend. Kouoh, a visionary and trailblazer, was set to make history as the first African woman to lead the Venice Biennale in 2026. Her sudden passing at the age of 57 leaves an indelible void in the art world and our hearts.
Kouoh's legacy is monumental. As the Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, she championed Pan-African contemporary art, transforming the institution into a beacon of cultural excellence. Her life's work exemplifies the profound impact of investing energy into endeavors and communities that reflect our values and aspirations.
These intertwined experiences—a wedding, a celebration of maternal love, and the mourning of a luminary—underscore the essence of our earlier conversation. They remind us to consciously allocate our energy towards relationships and pursuits that reciprocate our investment, to recognize when to gracefully exit situations that no longer serve us, and to honor the legacies of those who have paved the way.
In memory of Koyo Kouoh and in celebration of life's milestones, let us continue to cultivate connections and communities that reflect mutual respect, growth, and shared purpose.
— Alfonso Brooks for AfriKin
CALL TO ACTION:
The AfriKin Art Fair 2025: Through Creation, We Find Meaning is now open for artist submissions. Be part of a historic movement. Tell your story. Share your vision. Heal through creation.
Visit Afrikin.art for more information and submission guidelines.
Community Feedback Request:
We want to hear from you!
What do you think AfriKin can do better?
What would you like to see more of from us in the future?
Please share your thoughts with us by sending an email to info@afrikin.org or leaving a comment below. Your feedback is important to us as we continue to grow and evolve.
