Adaeze Ihebom

Ezinma Okwonkwo 1900

Rev.Sister Mary Uzoamaka Okwonkwo 1930

Adanna Bridget Okonkwo 1940

Nneka Clara Okonkwo 1950

Maryann Ginika Okwonkwo 1960

Amuchechukwu Gloria Okwonkwo 1967

Alexandra Daberechi Okonkwo 1972

Adaure Augustina Okonkwo 1981

Regina Ifedimma Okonkwo 1990

Claudia Onyeka Okonkwo 2015

This series was inspired by Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, a novel that traces the evolution of family identity from pre-colonial through colonial and post-colonial times. Through a series of self-portraits, I performatively explore Igbo women from various historical periods. As fictional characters, I construct their identities through costume, performance, and the symbolic act of naming and dating each image.

The decision to highlight Igbo women is rooted in my belief that they have been grossly misrepresented. More specifically, I feel that history has failed to portray the Igbo woman from her rightful perspective. She is often depicted within narratives that reinforce a titular African man's world and the notion of feminine submissiveness. This series challenges that misconception, illustrating how colonialism further eroded the Igbo woman’s autonomy and freedom.

The portraits depict the colonial experience and the profound impact of Christianity on Igbo femininity. They illustrate a stark transformation from the virile, half-clad, warrior-like Igbo woman to a subdued, fully covered, and meek-looking figure. This shift signifies not only a radical departure but also a complete alienation from traditional modes of dress and self-presentation. Their lives changed irrevocably when the British invaded Igboland. Colonization did not only reshape religious, social, and political institutions; it also enforced policies that diminished the roles and status of Igbo women, reducing them to second-class citizens in their own society.