Ichafu
Created with acrylics and white ink on paper
Every summer of my childhood my parents would take me and my four siblings back to Nigeria. I still remember the smell of the earth as we landed in Enugu or Lagos. There was always a heaviness to the air because of the rain season, and an immediate shift in the color palette.
Summers back then were filled with too much time playing RPGs and rewatching the same 12 or so music videos. The moments that broke the monotony were the special occasions when my mother would dress up and complete her looks with a regal Ichafu, Gele or “Wrappa”
The Ichafu wraps always had the most beautiful folds and textural sheen. There was so much beauty in the contrast of the ochre browns of the road contrasting with vivid saturated colours on brown skin.
This piece was painted loosely with pinks and browns to capture the nostalgia of early mornings in Enugu-ukwu.
Measurements (in inches)
Overall original with frame 6 x 8
4 ½ x 6 ½
