akingdoncomethas

akingdoncomethas is an epic montage composed of gospel songs and sermons recorded within Black congrégations in the United States. A compilation of clips sourced on the Internet, the video features bodies transcended by the words they utter, as if an external force were taking possession of them. A message of hope is outlined through their often ecstatic vocalizations, declaimed with ardor and energy, pointing toward the possibility of redemption, toward a new era in which doubt, fear, and suffering would end.

The title of the work, which refers to the arrival of the Kingdom of God, as announced by Jesus, suggests the emergence of a new world, even a new cosmic order. Jafa sketches a portrait of the contemporary Black experience, marked by resilience, faith, and courage.

The Pinault Collection first showed this work in 2023 at the Punta della Dogana  in Venice, as part of the exhibition Icones.