'Nyungi' (We Are Here)
Njogu Touray

Acrylic on canvas
2007

150cm (h)
30cm (w)

£ 925

This painting is part of Njogu's kenyeleng series, inspired by the colourful and unusual dress and activities of this women's group in The Gambia.

The kenyeleng women are making their presence felt. They are not being silent and melting into the background, they are standing out and shouting, "We are here!"

Kenyeleng tradition allows women to act and dress outside the normally prescribed boundaries. They may sit together in public spaces (even in the road, traffic permitting) and cook and eat and then sing and dance. Being different, even disguised, is the essence of what they do - trying to outwit the evil spirits they feel afflict them and who have taken away their ability to have children.