OBAASIMA GRANT WINNER - Meet Samuella Graham

We’re incredibly excited to introduce our first Obaasima Creative Fund Winner - Samuella Graham, also known as Samo. We sat down with Samo to find out more about her work and the project ‘Stained Stories’.

Samuella is a multidisciplinary artist and a dynamic presence in the contemporary art scene of Accra, Ghana. Samuella’s work stood out for its bold, thought-provoking approach to menstrual health awareness, using art as a tool for advocacy and education. Her work encompasses a diverse range of media including painting, collage, digital art, and performance art.

Her powerful project, "Stained Stories," forms part of the larger initiative "Roses Are Red, Periods Are Not Blue." This evocative art installation uses thrifted underwear, locally known as oborɔni wawu in Ghana, stained with red dye to spark critical conversations around menstrual stigma. Through visual storytelling and personal narratives, Samuella is challenging societal taboos and advocating for menstrual health awareness and equity.

Here’s what she had to say; 

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey as an artist?

I am Samuella Graham, known as Samo, a visual artist living and working in Ghana. My journey as an artist began in my teenage years when art became a coping mechanism, a place where I could process emotions and find comfort. What started as sketches in my notebook slowly grew into a deeper passion for storytelling through imagery. I studied Communication Design at KNUST and worked as a graphic designer, but painting is what comes to me easily. It feels natural, like an extension of myself. My work explores womanhood, identity, and healing, drawing from personal and shared experiences. I hope that through my art, people feel seen, understood, and less alone, finding pieces of themselves reflected in my work.

What inspired you to use art as a tool for advocacy, particularly around menstrual health?

My decision to use art for advocacy, especially around menstrual health, started with a conversation that turned into an argument with a family member. We were discussing a Bible verse that described menstruation as “unclean,” and I remember feeling frustrated. Why was something so natural seen as shameful? That moment stuck with me. It made me realize how deeply rooted these beliefs are and how silence fuels shame. Through my art, I want to challenge those narratives, spark conversations, and help people see menstruation for what it truly is; normal, powerful, and nothing to hide.

How did the idea for "Stained Stories" come about?

Stained Stories" started as a rebellion, a way to confront the shame around menstruation head-on. The installation features thrifted white panties stained with red dye forcing people to see what they often look away from.

“I was tired of how periods were something to hide, something that made people uncomfortable. So I decided to lean into that discomfort.”

Why did you choose to use oborɔni wawu (thrifted underwear) as the medium for this project?

I chose oborɔni wawu (thrifted underwear) for "Stained Stories" because these garments have history; they’ve been worn, lived in, and carry unseen stories, much like menstruation itself. Periods are deeply personal, yet shared by all who experience them, and I want to reflect that connection. Using second-hand underwear also challenges the idea of purity and shame around both the body and menstruation. By staining them with blood, I want to make people pause, reflect, and confront the discomfort we’ve been taught to feel.

Menstrual stigma is deeply ingrained in many cultures. How do you hope "Stained Stories" will challenge these perceptions?

I hope "Stained Stories" will make people see menstruation differently, not as something shameful, but as a natural, lived experience. I want it to spark conversations, to make people question why periods have been hidden for so long.

“Through discomfort and reflection, my hope is that this work normalizes menstruation, brings understanding, and helps break the cycle of silence around something so deeply human.”

How can people engage with or support this project?

People can engage with and support "Stained Stories" in several ways. Visiting the installation and taking part in the conversations it sparks is a powerful way to interact with the work. Sharing thoughts, stories, and personal experiences helps break the silence surrounding menstruation. Support can also come through spreading awareness, talking about the project, sharing it on social media, and challenging harmful period narratives in everyday conversations. Financial contributions or partnerships can help expand the project, making it accessible to more communities. Most importantly, simply listening, learning, and unlearning stigma is an act of support.

What’s next for you as an artist and activist?

For me, art and activism go hand in hand, and I want to keep creating work that challenges and starts real conversations. I hope to expand my work and also host art workshops where people can share their own experiences. Beyond menstruation, I want to explore other unspoken topics through art, using storytelling to bring hidden narratives to light. My goal isn’t just to create, but to make people feel, reflect, and connect in ways that inspire change.

Thank you so much to Samuella for sharing such inspiring words with us.

Connect with Samuella on Instagram

We’re eager to learn, collaborate, and share knowledge, so if you’re interested in working with us, say hello@blackgirlfest.com 

BGF x