2017

Kojo & Adwoa: Ghanian Illustrator El Carna Illustrates Everyday Love

Artist
Character Design
Ghana
Illustration

Kojo & Adwoa: Ghanian Illustrator El Carna Illustrates Everyday Love

Happy Valentines Day! To celebrate this day of love we bring you work by illustrator and digital artist El Carna. Throughout his portfolio El Carna depicts intimate moments between couples in their everyday life.  His recent project involved a small comic series about young lovers Kojo & Adwao. Enjoy!

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Hey Guys! So I'm starting an illustration series titled "Kojo & Adwoa"! Its a love story set in Ghana about two childhood friends who just got to see each other again after years apart. Kojo now lives in the city and Adwoa lives in the village. They've been talking on phone recently and finally decided to meet. In this first scene Kojo is back in the village, waiting under their favorite tree, nervous, as Adwoa approaches. " She's grown so beautifully", he thinks to himself. Pic. 1: Waiting For Her Ps. This story isn't prewritten. I'll just be going with the flow as to whatever my mind thinks should happen next. Hope you enjoy it. Cheers! 😊 © @elcarnastudios #KojoxAdwoa #storyteller #love #elcarnastudios

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Picture 3: Interrupted "Kojo & Adwoa" © @elcarnastudios …………………………….. The two friends had chatted into the late night. The place had grown quiet. One could hear the crickets chirping, and the hooting of an owl in the far distance. Kojo got up to leave as Adwoa took his hand. It felt a little uncomfortable, yet nice. They took a few steps toward the little gate, neither of them saying anything. The breeze was cold. Still holding hands, Kojo pulls Adwoa closer. Now they are staring eye to eye. Quiet. Kojo slowly leans in to… "Adwoa!", cut in a sharp voice. He quickly pulls away as Adwoa turns to see Mama standing with her lantern, accompanied by their dog. Mama had that stern "Get to bed" look on her face. And Bongo? Bongo had his usual straight "Who is that guy?" look. #KojoxAdwoa #storyteller #elcarnastudios #love

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Picture 5: Meeting Mama "Kojo & Adwoa" © @elcarnastudios …………………………………………… The morning is finally here and Kojo hurries off on his bicycle to see his friend Adwoa. The closer he gets, the faster his heart beats. He is imagining what she might be doing on a Saturday morning. Probably washing? He silently prayed that she won't be busy. That would be a great chance to go roaming together. There are so many places he would like to see again. . Kojo gets off the bike at the little blue gate. He swallows a little at the sight of Mama in the distance. "This was a bad idea", he says to himself. With his heart pounding in his chest, Kojo reluctantly drags his vehicle along as he approaches her. . "Good morning Mama", he greets. She has her head down, feeding her chickens. Theres a moment of silence that made Kojo want to disappear into thin air. She finally raises her head to acknowledge his presence, a broad smile on her face. The boy is relieved. "Good morning Kojo", she responds. "How're you today?" "I'm doing fine Mama", Kojo manages to say. "And I'm sorry about overstaying my visit last night", he adds politely. "Thats ok. It can be dangerous around here sometimes. Its always better to be safe than sorry," says Mama calmly, still smiling. Kojo manages to smile back. "Thank you," he says. . "I know you're looking for Adwoa. I sent her to get water from the river down hill. She should be back anytime soon." "Don't worry Mama", Kojo says, mounting his bike. "I need to get some water myself," he added as he pedaled hurriedly away before his friend's mother could stop him. #KojoxAdwoa #Storyteller #elcarnastudios #love

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Picture 7: Showdown By The Riverside "Kojo & Adwoa" © @elcarnastudios ……………………………….. The black dogs pounce on Bongo, wrestling him from all sides. Apau watches with glee as one of his dogs deliver a hard blow to Bongo's head, sprawling him to the ground helplessly. A very frightened Adwoa is a few steps away, screaming for help. "Please make them stop", she cries to Apau, who has just turned to sit in the shade of a nearby tree. "I will stop them only on one condi…" SWOOOOSHHH!!! There's a sudden loud stirring sound! Apau and Adwoa jump up to see what is happening. . "There shall be no conditions", shouted Kojo angrily from mid-air atop his bike, wielding a stick in his left hand. He strikes hard at one dog as he nears ground, freeing Bongo immediately. The dog runs away. Bongo attacks the other. Kojo loses his balance and crashes into the water. His bicycle lands heavily on his shoulder. Adwoa rushes in to help him. . Meanwhile a stupefied Apau just looks on trying to understand the sudden change of events. He turns to run home, and his now badly beaten dog follows him with a limp. Bongo goes after them, but Adwoa calls him back. . "Are you okay?" asks Adwoa gently as she holds Kojo's head on her lap. "I think I broke my arm", he responds with a smile. They are both in the water. #KojoxAdwoa #storyteller #elcarnastudios #love TAG someone who would love to read this story.

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Picture 8: The Escape "Kojo & Adwoa" © @elcarnastudios ……………………………… They stared at each other, resting in the water as the sun shone above them. Then they burst out laughing. "You should be careful when pulling a stunt like that next time", said Adwoa with a broad smile. Kojo just stared back with a grin. Her eyes are beautiful, he thought. Her hair was black, cornrow braided. As she moved, a drop of water from her wet hair trickled down her little nose. He could stare all day and still not get enough of her. His shoulder hurt really bad. But he had rescued her, and to him that was all that mattered. . "Come on now, let's go home" she said, helping him up. Kojo picks up his bike and Adwoa picks up her pan. Just as they are about leaving, Bongo starts barking. "It's ok boy. We're going home", said Adwoa, petting his head. The barking continues, so she lifts up herself to see what the problem could be. There, at the top of the hill in the far distance, Apau was returning with five more dogs! . "Kojo we are in a lot of trouble today. Quick, let's leave now before they get here", said Adwoa in a shaky voice. Kojo stretches and sees Apau with his entourage. "But I can't ride", he tells her. "Then let's run". "That won't help very much", he responds. Bongo's barking intensifies. The others dogs can be heard barking too. They are running toward them. Apau and a friend can be seen running closely behind. . "I will ride. Quick, get on. Let's go!" Adwoa says, snatching the bike from Kojo in the process. She sits on the bicycle and Kojo tries to sit behind her. But alas; he falls. Apau's dogs are only a few steps away now with a trail of dust behind them. There is so much barking. Kojo tries again. He manages to squeeze himself behind Adwoa on the bike. Adwoa pedals away with all force as Bongo follows closely! . The dogs chase after them. "I will teach you two a lesson today. You will never forget my name!", yelled Apau from behind them. Adwoa can't climb up the hill with the bike so, following her instincts, she darts right into the forest. Sensing it would would be too risky to follow them there, Apau calls back his dogs. "Tomorrow is anothe

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Picture 9: A Little Food, A Little Dance. "Kojo & Adwoa" © @elcarnastudios ………………………… Adwoa continued to race as fast as she could, tearing against leaves and branches along the way. Soon she realizes Apau had given up the chase. But then they had come in too far, she didn't know where they were. . "That was fast", Kojo said. "I didn't know you were this good". "Well, you learn something new everyday, don't you?" she responded with a smile. Kojo got sat on the ground. Not far from where his hand rested, a snail crept quietly under a leaf. . Bongo was still panting from the run. His tongue danced at the side of his mouth. Adwoa reaches down and cuddles him. "Good boy, good boy", she says. Bongo wags his tail. . "I think we are lost. I have never been this far in", says Adwoa. "Its beautiful here", Kojo said, still on the ground. The songs of the birds echoed up the trees. Everything was so colorful. Adwoa picks up the bike and begins to walk further in. There were plants everywhere. And insects. Her dog followed closely. "Hey, wait for me", Kojo called. "Well I thought city-boy just found paradise and didn't want to go home", Adwoa responded, laughing. . After some walking, they chanced upon a mango tree. Kojo climbs and plucks down a few ripe ones. There are ants all over the ground so they are forced to stand and eat. Later there is a sudden little breeze. "That was nice", he said. Adwoa just nibbled on her last piece of mango. "But, why is the air here humid? Adwoa said nothing. Just then Bongo began to run up and down the place, as if chasing something. " Hey boy, come back here", she called. But he didn't. Kojo gets up to check what it could be. He pushes aside the hanging branches out his way. There, right before him, was something so beautiful he least expected; a waterfall! Adwoa joins in. The water is cold and clean. After drinking, they lay on the grass. Kojo hummed a song, one they used to sing as kids under the moonlight. Adwoa knew the words so she sung. Kojo picks fallen fruits from a Flamboyant tree nearby. As Adwoa sings, he beats them to rhythm. The music they make is so good that Adwoa gets up and begins to dance!

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You know I had to throw in Chapter 10 to end the year right! 😊 BIG Announcement here TOMORROW. Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you all Peace and Prosperity. . Picture 10: Close To You "Kojo & Adwoa" © El Carna Studios ………………………………………… Kojo continued to play, and Adwoa danced beautifully. They felt so much happiness in this lost place, and they both did not want the day to end. Song after song they made merry until Adwoa was too tired to carry on. She playfully runs to the water washes her face with splashes of it. Kojo follows her. For a moment there is absolute calmness; one could hear the breeze whistling its way through the leaves, and the distant chattering of the birds. Adwoa turns to see Kojo behind her. "Stop staring", she says shyly. Kojo steps into the water, then steps closer to her. She doesn't move away. He gently touches her cheek with his left palm, and rests a flower in her hair. She smiles, staring back at him with those beautiful eyes. It's Kojo's turn to be shy. He tries to looks away, but Adwoa steps even closer, and slowly kisses him. . #KojoxAdwoa #storyteller #elcarnasttudios #love Story Continues Next Year. ❤️

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2017