Mama Adire-Mama Nike was one of 15 wives. When she left her husband to make art, the other 14 wives chose to follow her. Artist Nike Davies Okundaye – better known as Mama Nike – grew up in an area of Nigeria, Yoruba land, where polygamous marriages were common. Her own father had three wives.
The women in her family were makers of traditional adire (tie dye) cloth. From the age of six, Mama Nike’s great grandmother, mother, and aunt taught her how to spin, weave and dye.
“I didn’t know it was my own future food,” Mama Nike told BBC News, reason being because, despite her family’s craft, money was scarce.
At the age of 13, her father decided to marry her off to someone who already had several wives. But her great grandmother wanted her to choose her own marriage – and so did Mama Nike. She escaped from the men who had come to take her away, and trekked for five days back to her village.
“It’s the biggest risk I ever took,” she said. “I didn’t care if I died.”
She arrived home exhausted and covered in bee stings. Even so, her father tried to marry her off again. This time, Mama Nike ran away and joined a travelling theatre, until police arrested her and brought her back. Eventually, she agreed to marry a well-known artist and musician from Oshogbo, a town renowned for its artistic community.
She used her sewing and embroidery skills to make costumes for her husband’s band – while trying to make her own art.
“The men didn’t want a woman to be an artist, so, I worked in the night, and worked for them in the day,” she said.
Her husband went on to marry 14 other women. Tradition demanded those who were already wives accept each new marriage – but Mama Nike said they didn’t always want to. On one occasion, the husband took the women to a church where they were denied food, water, or access to their children.
Mama Nike was thus forced to agree to her husband marrying an additional woman: “By the third day we said, ‘bring the wife, we’re not jealous anymore.’ Our mouths were like boards – dry,”.
According to her, living with her husband made her feel “like a lion with no teeth. You have no power.”
She began to teach her co-wives traditional adire making skills, and soon, each of them was able to make their own money.
Sick of her husband’s control and abuse, Mama Nike left him as soon as she’d saved enough to buy her own place – and the other wives chose to follow her.
She opened her first formal gallery in Oshogbo in 1986.
She is now an internationally renowned artist, with a huge gallery in Lagos where she teaches others and makes her own colourful, beautiful art.
Someone who used to play around her studio said Mama Nike rewrote women’s history. She changed powerlessness to power.
“I always adore Mama’s flamboyant gele (hat) back in the days we used to play around her studio.
Believe me, Mama is Art and Art is Mama. The last time I visited her house at Osogbo, I fell in love all over. She challenged the tradition and system. Turned a deaf ear to criticisms, rewrote our tradition thereby making life easier for upcoming female generations. She also won on another hand – married a white man and gave birth to a female child who has also channeled in same trade. A power rare gem,
Sheff nic tal Schauff.
Koni Wendi Bakka described her story as one of resilience. “A story of resilience, one woman liberating 14 others from the fangs of patriarchy,” while for Sandra Lacey, “Women like Mama Nike encourage all women to rise up together to achieve great things.
Precious Hydy would want parents to stop forcing girls into marriage. “Imagine losing her talent and her life before the world ever knew how rare and unique she was. Parents, please stop forcing your children into marriage, especially to strangers”.
Mina Samonas identified with the courage and confidence exhibited by this rare woman.
“I love this. As a woman, you deserve everything good and more and if people are not giving you, you give yourself. You don’t stay and die in frustration, misery and pains. Let what is imbedded in you, sprout out that may take you higher. I love her COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE.I love how she was happy sharing her talents for other people. And I love how the other wives followed her, when she left. Sometimes, you only need one person to guide and save you”.
Mama Nike’s inspiring story serves as a lesson to all women to check within and build up the self rather than die in silence and regret. Every woman has the right to SAY NO TO BAD DECISIONS, BAD SITUATIONS!
Ketshia Aziza captured it thus: “Moral lesson- don’t let man have the final word on your dreams and ambitions. Don’t be afraid to quit and live your life.
Mama Nike’s works of art are display in galleries all over the world.
Source: Outlook: https://bbc.in/4v9xBcM/Facebook comments
