Tcharo-Makinz-Socrome

Yasser Ahamed Said (b. 1988) and Abi Amri Said Bacar (b. 1996), better known in the urban art scene of Moroni as Tcharo and Makinz are Comoran painters, designers and graffiti artists who have been working together since 2017. Having first encountered street art as fans of Hakim Idriss (b. 1984), artist alias Socrome, an influential artist responsible for the rapid spread of outdoor murals in Comoros, Tcharo and Makinz learned many of their skills from him. The three young men foined forces and have collaborated on countless street art projects since. They first connected thanks to social media at the Swana Studio, the major Comorian multidisciplinary creative lab engaged in product design and art interventions in public spaces and social events. Today, Socrome is Swana’s creative director, Tcharo, the graffiti designer and Makinz is draftsman and illustrator. Tcharo, Makinz and Socrome leave their marks on walls around the city of Moroni, occasionally venturing into the countryside. Some of their pieces are prominently displayed, as in the case of the murals in the basketball court in Moroni’s district of Magoudjou or at the Ajao stadium on Corniche Road in the Ambassador zone, while others grace the graffiti spots frequented by the youth. The hallmark of the collective's visual storytelling that builds on Socrome’s style is mural pieces combining achromatic and colorful sections. By placing black-and-white images within an entanglement of vibrantly colored abstract forms and calligraphic arabesques, the artists direct our attention to the core concerns of today’s Comoran society: climate change, youth empowerment, educational reform, preservation of the country’s nature and heritage. The medium of graffiti painting allows this audacious crew of creative first responders to call for action and bring hope.