Our Ancestors Wildest Dreams

OUR ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS
Type: Mural
Artist Involved: Samantha Dennis and Kanisha Dabreo, with the creative support of
Shannia Lewis, Indiigo Cocoa, and Kareen Weir, the mural also includes an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience made by Andre Barnwell and Quentin VerCetty. The plaque was designed by Jamera DaCosta.




DATE: May 2025
LOCATION: Brampton Center for Excellence - Peel Alternative North Secondary School - 315 Bartley Bull Pkwy, Brampton, ON L6W 2L4
MEDIUM: Acrylic on Wall

DIMENSIONS: 2.4m [8ft] (Height) x 5.0m [16.5ft] (Length)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This AstroSankofa Afrofuturistic mural was created to inspire and empower the students who walk through the Centre’s doors. “I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams” is both a visual affirmation and a sacred reminder that the pursuit of knowledge is not merely personal—it is an act of ancestral reverence. Every lesson learned and every goal achieved becomes a ripple across time, expanding the future our ancestors only dreamed possible.
Rooted in African symbology and speculative storytelling, the mural prominently features five Adinkra symbols:
Eban – symbol of love and protection


Nea Onnim No Sua A, Ohu – symbol of knowledge and lifelong learning


Nkonsonkonson – symbol of unity and human connection


Gye Nyame – symbol of divine supremacy


Sankofa (bird and heart) – With-out forgetting the past connection to guide the future

At the mural’s center stands a tree-woman, cradling the Earth—a powerful symbol of growth for Black people as original people, ancestral strength, and global responsibility. Surrounding her are visionaries of past, present, and future who reflect the multifaceted brilliance and potential of Black excellence.
Within the visionary landscape is a mountain of ancestral figures—countless faces representing the gems of one’s lineage. They embody the energy, struggles, and wisdom of those who came before us. Also for those who couldn’t or weren’t allowed to live their lives to its full potential, in contrast, we are their crystal gems, as our strive for excellence and greatness venerates them and honours their sacrifices, carrying forward what they could not.
The young figures seated on knowledge stools—one holding a book, the other a tablet—represent the students of the Centre. They are shown drawing both “innerstanding” and “overstanding” from ancestral wisdom and cosmic knowledge, echoing the principle of Sankofa: reaching back to move forward.
This mural is both a mirror and a map—reflecting the powerful potential of today’s youth and guiding them toward a future where they continue to raise the bar of Black excellence.
You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.

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Mural was led by Samantha Dennis and Kanisha Dabreo, with the creative support of Shannia Lewis, Shashann Phillip, and Kareen Weir, the mural also includes an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience made by Andre Barnwell and Quentin VerCetty. When activated, the AR component animates the artwork and gives voice to the artists’ personal reflections and collective hopes.
The plaque was designed by Jamera DaCosta.