AVIATION, BED BUGS AND A YAA ASANTEWAA PAINTING.

By Nii B. Andrews

Last week our Minister for Aviation engaged in a public rant about British Airways (BA).

After listening attentively to her, almost all discerning and educated Ghanaians were embarrassed and annoyed.

We shall not say why here.

An air of despondency descended on a lot of us, myself included.

Why is there so very little to inspire us or at the very least satisfy us from our public servants?

But my depression lasted just shy of 48 hours because happily, I received a painting from Denzel Oduro that lifted my spirits.

YAA ASANTEWAA: Denzel Oduro, digital painting, 16 x 23 inches, 2018. Signed and dated. Print numbered (1/10) with seal. Private Collection- purchased from the artist.

He takes an iconic figure from our history and updates it dramatically for the modern era. It is fresh.

As one of the female heroes in our forebears’ resistance to state sponsored terror and colonialism, this brave warrior took to the battlefield to defend the homeland.

Oduro references her sterling leadership, courage and military exploits by placing her in a batakari with powerful amulets.

But this batakari is an updated one.

It is cut so as to be off the shoulders; almost like a bustier; and yes, the warrior queen does show some cleavage.

The three quarter flared sleeve is as chic and up to date as anything on the runway.

Detail.

Then of course there are the emphatic gold jewelry pieces from a Kingdom of Gold!

The Gye Nyame motif for her earrings puts paid to those who called our forebears pagans, heathens or whatever.

And yes, of course, she is wearing tattered blue jeans, a further update on what has become a contemporary uniform seen on every urban boulevard, mall or rural backwater.

But in a clever twist, this warrior queen is not holding a gun……perhaps it is a bullhorn or a rolled parchment instead.

Bottom line, she has a message or a plan and we all know that our nation is in dire need of a coherent message or plan.

Detail.

Her turban and the multiple orange swirl lines give the figure an archetypal appearance further accentuated by the wide open and forward looking eyes ringed by on trend makeup.

To summarize, Oduro’s painting utilizes hybridisation to focus our attention on personal and public histories that address our cultural heritage, nationhood and the serious difficulties of establishing a coherent collective identity in a globalised postcolonial era.

Simply put, the painting asks us to be serious, sober and decisive when addressing our contemporary problems.

That is where the Aviation Minister completely missed the mark. She must improve her overall performance immediately otherwise she should be shown the red card.

No batakari for her…..yet!

***Price on application; limited edition of 10.

Each print numbered, signed and with a seal.

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