To Africa - Survival, Strength

African history is replete with setbacks and heroic, incredible stories of survival.

 I extend my appreciation and great esteem to the strong people of Africa.

As a tribute to the country that was home to my grandparents for almost four decades, mother and other family, 

I painted this woman in the company of the blue starling, a common bird found in Tanzania.

 I chose this bird for its color and its great ability to be a survivor in spite of odds. 

I tried to use the striking boldness of designs on the ‘kanga’ dress of the Tanzanians as the background of my painting. 

It also reminds me of how my mother used to make Saris out of them.

Africa is my birthplace and I grew up listening to magical tales of life in the sisal estates of Tanzania.

 Tanzania evokes joy in the light dimmed eyes of my 93-year-old grandpa even now. 

They, that is my grandparents, can slip into Swahili with ease and

 reminiscence about their experiences with 

a mixture of love, loss and laughter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sketch with ball point pen that I did before painting

 

 

 

I want to share with you a quote that has always resonated with me. 

Its relevancy is not only to Africa, but also to all the rat race and 

 power wars in our world where a silent story goes unsaid or unheard.

              Lines from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, which goes like this,

                                             “Until the lions have their own historians, 

                                      the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter…”

- Chinua Achebe

 I must add that the comment by, 

Chris and Angela, 

has inspired me to mention the

 Sydney Peace Prize winner,  

Senator Sekai Holland 

who said in her acceptance speech,

"This award comes as a wonderful surprise but one which is so encouraging. 

I accept on behalf of the brave women I have worked with for so many years 

and for my colleagues in our present 

Organ for National Healing Reconciliation and Integration."

 

I am sharing my work with   

Art EveryDay Month, Art Journal Every Day, 

Mandarin Orange Monday 

Artists in Blogland 

Show me what you got Art Link up