CHIEFS.
Chiefs is a visual documentary project exploring the creative resilience of women and girls from & within the West African diaspora. It was born out of the necessity for a community without borders and a space to communicate, cross examine and express shared or collective experiences. Chiefs is born out of the belief that there is strength in numbers, and this applies beyond the constraints of location, class, even language. Chiefs is inspired by the oldest ‘freedom fighter’ in the world, the modern woman, challenging the idea that new or innovative ideas within intersectional feminism are too radical. Chiefs comes at a time when women are being compared against each other in physical, spiritual digital realms and beyond, and builds from the director Betty’s personal experience as a mixed black Nigerian woman living and working in London, UK.
Sodade Next is the starting point for this series. It is a short form documentary depicting girlhood amongst emerging musicians on the islands of Cape Verde, West Africa. Containing interviews, visuals connecting the land and cultural context to talent, femininity and boldness, it aims to express shared experiences of trying and failing, succeeding, fierce resourcefulness and creativity.
Sodade Next is about the emerging musicians living and working on the islands of Sal, Santiago and Santo Antao, following the legacy of one of the most famous Afro folk singers to date, Cesaria Evora. Music is a huge part of Caboverdian culture, but this is not reflected as proportionately in wider western media.
STARTING POINTS
I’m a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, textile, installation and lens-based media and spent five years documenting Black British nightlife around London and greater parts of England. Being around these spaces routinely taught me the importance and significance music has in the diaspora, and as a West African myself, was able to connect with people through these events. Diaspora nightlife in the UK isn’t just events, it became a third space, a chance to express and to feel at home with the music played at home too.
Working with musicians and in nightlife spurred me on to this project. My wider practice explores visual narratives of women over time and how I can show femininity and empowerment. My most recent exhibition, LOVE/FIGHT, was my manifesto of this continuous practice - I’m exploring ideas around what it means to be a resilient woman, and how in some contexts, this can be seen as political. Below are works I made that are visual references for starting points in this series.
