My 11-year-old son would like to know why these women are armed?
These are the wives of Shango, a ruler of the Oyo Empire in Nigeria in the 15th century. As the story goes, they were strong women who went into battle with their husband and even taught him a few tricks on how to fight!
Of course, they are not equipped with 15th century weapons but rather 20th century bandoliers: belts with bullets. These were worn by revolutionary fighters in the early 20th century and then became fashionable among members of the Black Liberation Movement.
Thanks!
Do you know what the title "Wives of Shango" refers to?
Yes. Shango was a powerful ruler in the Oyo Empire during the 15th century in what is present-day Western Nigeria. His wives' names were Oshun, Oba and Oya. They were said to have been strong women who went into battle. Here we see them in 1960s dress and wearing the bandolier bullet belts worn by many Black Liberation Movement members.
Thanks!
Why is the light on these artworks so much darker than the light on other art in this gallery?
You're very perceptive. Works on paper, like these prints (watercolors would also fall into this category) are very sensitive to light and fade very easily. The light is kept low to help preserve the artworks. Works on paper cannot be exposed to light for long periods of time either. After this exhibition they will be returned to dark storage to "rest."
Okay. Thank you. I noticed the dresses are displayed nearby. Does fabric have the same light issues?
Textiles do share a lot of the same concerns. Temperature and humidity are also major considerations.
How do you justify including Jeff Donaldson in this show of women artists?
Many of the black women artists at the time aligned more closely with their male counterparts based on racial discrimination. They often felt ignored by the mainstream, mostly white, female, middle-class feminist movement and instead created collectives and fostered relationships with not only other black women but also black artists in general.
In that same spirit of collectivity, this is a depiction of Shango, a ruler of the Oyo empire in the 15th century in what is today Nigeria. His wives, Oshun, Oba, and Oya, were said to be strong women who went into battle with him. Both Jeff Donaldson and Wadsworth Jarrell were founding members of AfriCOBRA along with Jae Jarrell and the work of theirs included pays direct tribute to women.
Can you share anything on this one?
Of course. These are the wives of Shango, who was the ruler of the Oyo Empire in Nigeria in the 15th century. As the story goes, the two women at his sides, two of his wives, were strong women who went into battle with their husband and also taught him fighting techniques.
In the context of the show, this work exemplifies the idea of black women joining black men to fight against racial injustice and holding equivalent status to men. You can see that they are wearing bandolier or bullet belts which were originally popularized by the Black Panther Movement and adopted within the Black Arts Movement as a symbol of active resistance. The belt appears again in "Revolutionary (Angela Davis)" and "Revolutionary Sister," both in the same section of the exhibition.
Wow. I'm so glad I asked!
These women look powerful.
I think so! Shango was a ruler of the Oyo Empire in Nigeria in the 15th century. As the story goes, they were strong women who went into battle with their husband, and even taught him how to fight!
What is shango?
Shango was a powerful ruler of the Oyo Empire during the 15th century in Western Nigeria. The women he is pictured with are his wives. They were said to be strong women who went into battle with him. Here we see them in 1960s dresses wearing the bandolier belts that were popular among members of the Black Power Movement.
Thanks.
I'm curious as to the angle for the title "Wives of Shango." I understand the visual aspect of women dressed in combat or warrior gear and its relation to Shango's legacy and deity, but am curious about how Donaldson may have approached this work politically. I think there are multiple approaches and readings, some of which read as more or less in line with Black feminism (which I understand may not encompass everything in the exhibit, but which I have some personal interest in as a Black woman and Black feminist).
I think the artist is speaking to the solidarity between black men and women in the fight for racial and gender equality. As the legend goes, Shango was a powerful Yoruba ruler. He had three wives who were described as strong women. They both taught the king how to fight and went into battle themselves. This idea of women being equally capable and important to a battle, physical or political, is what I believed the artist meant to highlight in the context of the Civil Rights Movement.
Visually, the depiction of the women wearing bandolier belts and guns draped over their shoulders is a reference to the Black Panther Party. All members of the Party, male AND female, were trained in weapons use. There were no gendered barriers in this area.
Finally, I believe the painting seeks to highlight the idea of the strength of the black family, a particular focus of the Black Arts Movement and AfriCOBRA group.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
Word. I think that's a useful angle that can be used differently. Your last comment about the strength of the Black family makes me think about the connection to Black Nationalism, the radical politics of which only go so far.
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