In collaboration with
- Words Notion Staff
Havana Club and Skepta link for another venture that sees Skepta design his second limited-edition Havana Club 7 bottle to celebrate his Nigerian roots.
Havana Club and Skepta are back with their second collaboration, a limited-edition bottle designed by the iconic rapper. The multi-media Havana Club 7 bottle explores the creative and cultural connections between Yoruba culture and Afro-Cuban spirit, honouring the spirit of community celebrated by the first campaign.
A creative project that began in Cuba last year to accompany the release of the limited-edition bottle, Havana Club has documented Skepta’s journey from London back to Nigeria in an exploration of his Yoruba roots. This trip culminated in a campaign film that celebrates Yoruba culture, both traditional and contemporary.
The carefully crafted second-edition bottle is a homage to Skepta’s chieftaincy and the journeys that pave our paths to greatness. Speaking on the collaboration, Skepta says: ‘This Havana Club 7 bottle honours my roots. It traces the migration of Yoruba culture from Africa to Cuba and back again. Inspired by the region of my chieftainship in Ogun State Nigeria, it celebrates inner strength and the journeys that make us great.”
Aiming to blend the rich values of the two countries, the exclusive label uses Adire, a traditional Yoruba textiles pattern, in addition to foiled imagery of the Ogun State landmark, the Olumo Rock and the native hawks that circle it to add extra texture to the immersive bottle. Cowrie shells, found in Cuba, line the label edge – another symbol of unity between the cultures, as cowrie shells are used to adorn sacred ornamentations of Elegua, a Yoruba deity still honoured in Cuba.
The Skepta icon that graces the bottle takes inspiration from the parallel notches on the güiro instrument played in Cuba. The label design showcases the beating heart of both Nigerian and Cuban cultural soundscapes, bound together by Skepta’s focused creative vision.
Seeking to champion local businesses that may have suffered over this difficult year, the limited-edition bottle will debut in corner shops throughout London from July to support the retailers that represent and uphold the Havana x Skepta message of uplifting community.