FEB 1 2018
FEB 1 2018
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FEB 1 2018
This is one of the paintings I just discovered in my garage.
The painting celebrates Robert Hayden’s poem, “Middle Passage.”
It is a really long poem.
The painting focuses on this excerpt:
“That Crew and Captain lusted with the comeliest
of the savage girls kept naked in the cabins;
that there was one they called The Guinea Rose
and they cast lots and fought to lie with her: ”
The character across the floor of the ship being whipped to consent is the lady called Guinea Rose in the poem.
Artist: Moyo Okediji
Title: Bèbè Ìdí (Beaded Waistline)
Medium: Terracotta
Date 2010
I know you’re tired.
I know you are broke. Very broke.
I know that all your friends are making it, but things are not just working for you right now.
I know you are annoyed.
My phone rang.
“Àlàó?” I said after picking it up.
“Hello, prof,” said the sweet voice on the other side.
It is definitely a woman, I decided. But I don’t know the number. I shouldn’t have picked up the call. But it was too late.
So, I kept quiet.
“There’s nobody who will see this place and not be afraid,” the two men on the bike said this morning as they stopped and kept looking at our newest installation at the Àkòdì Òrìṣà.
Bí ìwọ́ bá ṣe rere, ara kì yíò ha yá ọ? I wonder where I got that quote from. Is it a Yoruba proverb?
I wouldn’t be surprised if it was from the Bible.
AJÁ AND ÀGÙNTÀN
In the olden days, Aguntan, the sheep, was the most respected animal in the entire Yorubaland.
Aguntan was the embodiment of Iwapele (gentleness of character), suuru (patience) and iforiti (perseverance).
The entire world decided that Agutan was the best fellow to be crowned the king because of his wonderful character.
They made Agutan the king, and the world was happy and prosperous.