This distinctive approach wasn't instant. It was forged on a self-described long route that started with childhood drawings and spray-painted walls, winding through design school, mural work and various creative hustles. Now, there’s a musicality to his process – hip-hop and jazz influences how he remixes his visuals, like a beatmaker hunched over a MIDI controller. Yay values pride and community, wanting his art “out in the world, sparking joy and conversation,” rather than confined to gallery walls.

You can see this philosophy in action: his intricate symbolism unfurls across Ivory Coast's ceremonial carpet at AFCON; sunbleached orange lights up the The Lion King live show and deep purple wraps Africa’s largest billboard for Hollard. With a dream of shaping the visual identity for an event like the Olympic Games, Yay Abe is going for gold.