Reimagining Heritage Through AI
I partnered with ChatGPT as my creative assistant to bring Sista with the Fro into the AI era. I began by explaining the original project's heart and soul, a visual tribute to Black women, their natural hair, and their cultural heritage.
Sista with the A.I
ChatGPT helped me generate detailed, culturally respectful prompts specifically tailored for Leonardo AI.
Each tribe, from the Zulu and Xhosa to the Khoisan, was carefully matched with distinct Afro styles and authentic traditional attire. Every prompt was crafted to ensure that the final imagery would honor the roots, textures, and spirit of African identity.
Here are the prompts and image generations
Zulu Woman — Freeform Fro
Cinematic portrait of a regal Zulu woman with a large, freeform afro. Focus on her powerful face, wild textured hair, and traditional Zulu beadwork and attire. Earthy, warm tones, golden-hour soft lighting. Rich fabric and jewelry details. Ultra-detailed, soft cinematic textures, proud and dignified.
Xhosa Woman — Curly Fro
Cinematic portrait of a proud Xhosa woman with a rounded, curly afro. Wearing black and white traditional beadwork and garments. Close focus on her expressive face, defined curly hair texture, and intricate Xhosa patterns. Warm earthy background, soft natural lighting, detailed and authentic.
Ndebele Woman — Blowout Fro
Vibrant portrait of a graceful Ndebele woman with a blown-out afro. Dressed in colorful, geometric-patterned traditional clothing with bold beaded neckpieces. Strong focus on her elegant face, stretched hair texture, and vibrant attire. Cinematic lighting, earthy tones, vivid yet grounded.
Swazi Woman — Bantu Knot-Out Fro
Serene cinematic portrait of a Swazi woman with a soft Bantu knot-out afro. Dressed in traditional Swazi attire with lihiya cloth and beadwork. Focus on her serene face, textured hair definition, and cultural details. Warm natural background, soft golden-hour light, authentic and heartfelt.
Southern Sotho (Basotho) Woman — Rounded Natural Fro
Cinematic portrait of a dignified Southern Sotho woman with a perfectly rounded natural afro. Wrapped in a Seanamarena Basotho blanket. Focus on her powerful face, even hair shape, and traditional blanket patterns. Muted earthy setting, soft sunlight, richly detailed and regal.
Northern Sotho (Pedi) Woman — Textured Full Fro
Portrait of an elegant Northern Sotho woman with a thick, textured full afro. Wearing vibrant Pedi traditional clothing and beadwork. Close focus on her confident face, dense hair texture, and colorful attire. Warm natural lighting, earthy, proud and cinematic.
Tswana Woman — Side-Parted Fro
Warm cinematic portrait of a Tswana woman with a voluminous side-parted afro. Dressed in traditional blue shweshwe fabric and subtle jewelry. Strong focus on her radiant face, parted hair texture, and detailed fabric patterns. Earthy backdrop with golden light, rich storytelling vibe.
Venda Woman — Curly High Fro
Radiant portrait of a Venda woman with a high, curly afro reaching upward. Wearing bright Venda traditional striped attire (yellow, green, red, blue). Sharp focus on her joyful face, lively hair texture, and colorful fabrics. Natural outdoor setting, golden warm tones, vibrant and proud.
Tsonga Woman — Tapered Fro
Colorful cinematic portrait of a Tsonga woman with a chic tapered afro. Dressed in bright, vibrant Tsonga fabrics and intricate beadwork. Detailed focus on her bright face, tapered hair shape, and lively attire patterns. Earthy background with golden sunlight, joyful yet elegant spirit.
San Woman (Khoisan) — Short Tight-Coiled Fro
Soulful portrait of a San woman with a short, tight-coiled afro. Wearing traditional leather garments and minimalist beadwork. Sharp focus on her wise face, tightly coiled hair, and indigenous attire. Warm desert-inspired background, soft sunset light, earthy, powerful, and authentic.
Khoikhoi Woman — Loose Natural Fro
Warm portrait of a Khoikhoi woman with a soft, loose natural afro. Wearing traditional leather attire and simple beadwork. Close focus on her gentle face, fluffy hair texture, and indigenous craftsmanship. Sunlit natural background, earthy cinematic tones, graceful and heartfelt.
Once the portraits were generated in Leonardo AI, I moved to Runway. Using its motion tools, I animated the still images, bringing subtle life to the subjects, from soft movements in the hair to gentle shifts in lighting. This step helped transform each portrait into a living, breathing homage, a moving tribute to the power, beauty, and spirit of African womanhood.
Breathing Life Into Still Images with Runway
To guide the emotional arc of the final piece, I turned again to ChatGPT. I provided a foundation for the narration, a poetic affirmation of strength, endurance, and pride, and ChatGPT helped me expand it. Together, we crafted a script that captured the energy of the visuals and deepened the story being told. The final narration became the heartbeat of the project, pulling together imagery, sound, and emotion.
“We are the first breath of creation...
Our skin holds the stories of ancient queens...
Our crowns bloom with the strength of mountains...
We carve paths where none existed...
We walk with the rhythm of oceans —
Draped in sunlight... and storm...
Our laughter echoes across valleys and time...
Not made to be conquered — //
Our spirit rises... unbroken... through every dawn...
We are Africa’s daughters — //
Fierce... eternal... alive.”
Finding the Voice: Building the Script with ChatGPT
I took the completed script, made a few personal tweaks to fine-tune the rhythm and feeling, and fed it into Eleven Labs to generate the voice-over. While I would have loved to use a Black South African female voice to truly root the piece in the continent’s soul, the platform didn't have that option yet. Nevertheless, I aimed to select a warm, grounded voice that still honored the spirit of the project.
Recording the Soul: Eleven Labs
Finally, all elements, the animations, the voice-over, and the music, came together in Premiere Pro. I sourced music, sound effects, and some additional textures from Artlist to create the right emotional atmosphere. Using After Effects, I crafted the opening titles, transitions, and finishing touches that would give the final project a professional polish. The result is a full-circle tribute: honouring the past, embracing the future, and celebrating African beauty in all its forms.