''Obioma, please sew me this style''

Artist- Waku Ken.

18x24in

Acrylic on Canvas

If you grew up in the South South region of Nigeria, then you may have had your clothing made or mended by a travelling tailor or "Obioma", as my mother fondly called them. Walking from place to place with their heavy sewing machines and tools on their head, they would pull a string fitted with a wooden bead with one hand that made a distinct sound alerting residents nearby that they were in their neighbourhood and ready for work. Their illustriousness to provide for them and their loved ones, regardless of the weather, was my motivation to paint this familiar scene as homage to them. Even without an atelier, their hard work is not forgotten. The world is their studio.