ToKillaMockingBird
Artist: Moyo Okediji
Title: ToKillaMockingBird
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Date: 2018
Artist: Moyo Okediji
Title: ToKillaMockingBird
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Date: 2018
Officially, I become a senior citizen today.
I turned 65.
From what my daughter said–and she was giving me professional information as a licensed social worker–I have become an ẹ̀rùjẹ̀jẹ̀ in the eye of the law in the US.
I’m like a baby now.
Can you imagine hurting a baby!
How does one translate ÌKÚNLẸ̀ ABIYAMỌ into English, yet retain the picture that that term conveys in the original Yoruba context?
The word “childbirth,” which is the direct translation of ÌKÚNLẸ̀ ABIYAMỌ does not give the picture of the kneeling woman, giving birth to a child.
In the face of challenges
Do not panic.
Never panic when the situation is dire.
However bad your circumstances are
Do not panic.
Things will get better
But only when you don’t panic.
Who owns your body?
Would you be shocked to learn
you don’t own your body?
Ten things, I hate to tell you,
claim ownership of your body
The first owner of your body
is your name.
In a nation of thieves
the innocent
is a criminal.
Ha ha ha ha.
Don’t quote me o!
Artist: Moyo Okediji
Title: Ìbàdí Àrán (Duchess).
Medium: silicon on paper
Date: 2020