Where have you been Oyiugo? Lola Lonli, African Artist
The plot is taken from the book "And Destruction Came" by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. It beautifully describes the various customs, beliefs and rituals of the Igbo people. Before planting yams, the Igbo observe a week of peace, when you not only can't fight, but even say a harsh word to someone. The respected and wealthy man Okonkwo, well respected father of the family, waited in vain for his younger wife Oyiugo to bring him dinner (each of the wives feeds her husband in turn).
Oyiugo returned when night was already falling and said that she was doing her hair for the holiday, and her friend braided her for a very long time. Yes, the hairstyle was a success, but Okonkwo was hungry and angry and beat his wife up.
... The elders sentenced the offender to a fine, and he paid them with a goat, a chicken, a jug of wine, a piece of cloth and a bunch of cowrie shells, and Okonkwo also added a new machete from his bounty, because for him there was nothing more valuable than his high position in society .
The composition of the picture is different from many of my works by the complete absence of a background. The "suspension" of the heroes in the air symbolizes the fact that the separation from traditions, in pursuit of something momentary, deprives people of the ground under their feet.
I also wanted to emphasize that the problem of resolving family conflicts by force, described in the book "And Destruction Came", is a global problem and, unfortunately, is found everywhere.
The posture and gaze of Oyiugo, as well as some deliberate distortion of proportions, symbolize self-righteousness and fearlessness under the protection of the laws of her people.
The kneeling posture of Okonkwo symbolizes that despite his strength and wealth, he cannot belittle the greatness of traditions and still, one way or another, obeys them.