Sika Dwimfo, the ‘Godfather of Leimert Park,’ dies at 83

Artist, grasp jeweler, group activist and business enterprise owner Sika Dwimfo, referred to as the “Godfather of Leimert Park,” died Saturday. He was 83.

His daughter, Milan Dwimfo, posted Sunday on Instagram, “My heart is broken to share that SIKA DWIMFO is our most recent ancestor. Thank you anyone for Wednesday. That was the most lovely sendoff possible. He been given his flowers even though he was right here and we really should be happy as a neighborhood. He loved you Leimert.” No trigger of death was presented.

Recognised extensively by his mononym, Sika was born Dec. 26, 1940, in New Orleans and grew up in Chicago. He made a aptitude for trend and type from his mother, a tailor who created her son personalized suits. As a younger gentleman, he owned an art gallery and was befriended by locals which includes authors Haki R. Madhubuti and Gwendolyn Brooks in an environment loaded in jazz, artwork and poetry.

Ultimately, the severe Midwestern winters wore on the cost-free-spirited Sika and he moved to Los Angeles when he was 31 many years outdated. He became a cornerstone of the Leimert Park local community and, because 1992, owned and operated Sika Gallery on Degnan Boulevard. The store, stocked with jewelry created by Sika, racks of dashikis, beaded necklaces, Ghanaian baskets and Mali mudcloth, weathered the 1992 riots, economic downturns, switching demographics and, much more not long ago, quick gentrification and the COVID-19 shutdown.

To the close, Sika maintained his sense of particular design. “I like to costume, I like to glimpse nice,” Sika informed The Periods in 2022. “Now that I’m older, I determine it enhances me. I have to place on some thing that will make me energetic.”

Workers writers Julissa James and Kailyn Brown contributed to this report.