Ode to Moederfiguur | I have five moms, I turned out great

Visual artist Tyna Adebowale (1982) explores motherhood, and the choice – or lack thereof – to be a mother in any form. She grew up in Nigeria, where Mama Niidezedo was a strong matriarchal figure in her community, serving the people of Uneme as a healer, mediator, and midwife until her passing in 2015. Still, she was not traditionally commemorated. The fact that she did not have biological children played a role in this. The frustration and anger that Adebowale felt about this, was a starting point for #MOTHERWOMBproject.  

The sound installation is an interaction between two places. It features music from Adebowale's birthplace, performed by women who contributed to their communities but did not have biological children. This is blended with voices recorded on Dam Square, Amsterdam – a location where many different mother tongues are spoken. It is a nod to the theme of “mother” that is central to Adebowale's work. She incorporates dolls in her work that refer to fertility rituals from precolonial African cultures, such as the Ashanti, Yoruba, and Ndebele. The installation also gives mama Niidezedo the memorial that she deserved, to celebrate her life and legacy.