Artist: Femi Okediji ( Phemco Okediji)
Title: Portrait of Moyo Okediji
Medium: graphite
Date: 2018
This is the latest portrait of me by a young Nigerian artist, Femi Okediji.
I really enjoy his mastery of chiaroscuro.
The loose strokes of his composition merge structurally into a coherent musical gradient that gives form to my facial expression.
Thanks, Femi for this wonderful gift.
I really enjoy it.
Artist: Iyaba Ibo Mandingo
Portrait of Moyo Okediji
He makes my head egglike; the portrait looks like a profile made from an ancient coin.
I love you Iyaba!!!!
Two New African Proverbs:
1. The same people who place their knee on your neck will also be the first to ask “Why can’t you breathe?”
2. The same people who are causing your sadness will also be the first to ask “Why can’t you laugh?”
(Adapted from the Yoruba proverb, “Ẹ́ni tí ó bá sọ ni di olóríburúkú ni ó kọ́kọ́ má a ń fi bú ni:
Samuel Toba did this portrait of me today. It’s gorgeous. Do you think I should hug…
Moyo Okediji
Excavations from Wankanda I
Medium: Archaeology
2018
I’m a refugee
An exile, a stranger
In a gold residence.
Home died decades away.
Those who opened their door
To welcome my wandering legs
Point to me their tables
decked with wine and sweetbread.
Another beautiful day to enjoy the sweetness of sunlight.