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Posted by: Benjamin Onuorah
Nike Davies Okundaye, better known as Mama Nike came from a family of artisans, skilled in producing traditional adire cloth much prized by Nigerian royalty. However, the family was not wealthy, and she lived in an area where polygamous marriages were common. To avoid such a marriage at 13 she ran away from home several times, at one point joining a travelling theatre.
Partly driven by her desire to practise art, she later married a well-known artist, however he also married another 14 women. Despite infighting between the wives, Nike taught them the traditional adire making skills she had learnt as a child, and when she eventually left her husband all the other wives wanted to follow her. Since then, Nike has encouraged many more women to develop their artistic skills, sell their work and gain financial independence. She is now an internationally recognised artist and gallery owner. Mama Nike was one of 15 wives. When she left her husband to make art, the other 14 wives chose to follow her...
Artist Nike Davies Okundaye - better known as Mama Nike - grew up in an area of Nigeria where polygamous marriages were common.
The women in her family were makers of traditional adire cloth. From the age of six, Mama Nike's great grandmother, mother, and aunt taught her how to spin, weave and dye.
"I didn't know it was my own future food," says Mama Nike - because, despite her family's craft, money was scarce.
At the age of 13, her father decided to marry her off to someone who already had several wives.
But her great grandmother wanted her to choose her own marriage - and so did Mama Nike. She escaped from the men who had come to take her away, and trekked for five days back ...
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