Ekeala Streams
As a child, I went to the village stream deep in the jungle, along with other children in our clan, to bath, wash clothes, rinse cassava, as well as fetch drinking water. This image depict that wonderful stream which seemed like the holy of holies when we finally descend into the valley and get to it.
The lockdown period proved to be a very reflective period in many ways. I travelled back to my home town Obowo where I was born, but the journey was only in my imagination. I revisited the jungles of my childhood, some of the people, the places and the stunning scenery that abound in our landscape. My childhood was a very happy and secure one. We were free. We lived in the township, mind you, but we travelled to the village on many weekends and during the school holidays.
As a result, we were versed in both township and village life. It was a great time. We went on perilous adventures to the streams deep in the valley to fetch drinking water, with our 10 litre buckets balanced precariously on our heads.
We went to the farms with our hoes and matchetes to plant corn, cassava, okro and yam. We gathered round the fire at night to listed to tales by moonlight while roasting yam, Bush Pear and maize on the bonfire, We played hide and seek in the dark and ran around barefeet. We danced naked in the rain storm, very grateful for the refreshing rain. I regret that our kids in their turn have missed out on such marvelous adventures. Happy times, very happy times. This painting is part of the collection I created, in recollection of that wonderful period of my childhood.
Acrylic on paper
Unframed
2021
54x89cm