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a picture showing moyo okediji standingnext to his artwork

Another painting that I just extracted from my garage is this dark work.

ByMoyo Okediji

Another painting that I just extracted from my garage is this dark work.

There is an interesting story behind it.

In the year 2000 or 2001, the British Museum invited me to give a lecture as part of the ceremonies held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and also to mark the completion of the Great Court built as an extension of the main museum building. They wanted me to address the body as my topic.

WHO IS GUILTY?

WHO IS GUILTY?

ByMoyo Okediji

WHO IS GUILTY?

Iya Oyo was smiling. That was frightening. I knew I was in great trouble.

Iya Oyo never smiled. When she looked like she was smiling, trouble was brewing, and the only one that trouble could brew for that quiet evening was me.

The only way I knew she was smiling was because I turned and looked at her as she tapped her pipe on the arms of the seat on which she reclined with my grandfather, who was still quietly smoking his pipe.

a picture showing moyo okedijis art piece

Your Mother is My mother is Your Mother is My Mother.

ByMoyo Okediji

Your Mother is My mother is Your Mother is My Mother.

“Iya Oyo, does your name mean the mother of Oyo, or the mother in Oyo?” I asked Iya Oyo one day.

“It means both,” she responded. “To my entire community of Oyo, I am the mother of all, young and old. If anyone is hungry and comes to me, it is my responsibility to feed them. Anybody who needs a place to sleep and comes to me, I will roll out my mats to them. I am their mother, and that is why I am Iya Oyo. At the same time, I live in Oyo, therefore if I travel anywhere, I am the mother who lives in Oyo.”