Women of the Elephant Tusk, an exhibition of powerful portraits of traditional matriarchs by REWA, opens at the Africa Center in London on September 8th, 2024. Curated by SMO Contemporary Art, the works celebrate century old systems of African feminism and leadership, coinciding with Black History month in the UK, and the Africa Center's 60th anniversary.
Women of the Elephant Tusk is an exhibition of eight large scale paintings by REWA, a rising global visual artist, who traces the story of initiation into the OtuOdu female chieftancy group in Onitsha, eastern Nigeria. Through the artists' two year exploration of family history and archival materials, researching intimate narratives about the roles and experiences of members of Otu Odu, REWA shares a compelling story of how traditional women leaders in her hometown, have safeguarded profound traditional knowledge systems and values.
"The Otu Oduwomen serve as guardians of Igbo customs, a beacon of tradition dating back to the 16th century. The very name, Odu, meaning elephant tusk, encapsulates the majesty and reverence bestowed on its members, who proudly wear ivory tusks (or ivory replicas in modern times) as symbols of their identity and status," explained REWA in her artist statement. "The stories and triumphs of my grandmothers and aunts, esteemed members of the Otu Odu society, are a mainstay of this body of work. Like the tusks themselves, they embodied strength, wisdom, and resilience."