Chuma: Onye Punuká
"Onye Punuka" features the head of a female figure with braided hair, adorned with a colourful 'akwete'(Igbo fabric) cap and neck beads. Two baskets connected by rope dangle from both sides of her head, symbolising the baskets commonly used among women in African societies for trading. Her eyes remain watchful and alert, surveying her surroundings with awareness.
On the left side of the artwork, a doughnut shape bears the Igbo phrase "Uwa bu ahia," meaning "Life is a marketplace." The background showcases a black-and-white drawing created through the maximisation of negative space, a technique characteristic of traditional Uli artists. This backdrop is richly populated with trade motifs, icons, graphs, charts all rendered in Uli symbolic motif style, including the 'Ise Oji' motif - symbolic of the 4 days of the week - Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo!
The area surrounding her face resembles clockwork, revealing an intricate network of gears. A subtle reference to music and women's singing ability appears in the placement of bar charts, reflecting as piano keys. Behind her, a clustered network of symbols alludes to the complex thoughts, duties, and processes women navigate while raising children and managing their lives. Two target symbols represent goal-setting, highlighting how our women serve as goal-setters and goal-maintainers for their families.
"Onye Punuka" pays tribute to the often-overlooked narrative of a woman whose name became integral to a family's historical legacy. In the context of Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe's family history, 'Onye Punuka' was the wife of Obi Idigbe, the great-great-grandfather of the renowned Nigerian jurist. By centring the artwork on her, Chuma Anagbado illuminates the untold stories of women who, despite being marginal in historical records, played crucial roles in shaping family and community narratives.
The artwork's elements and symbolism highlight how women's entrepreneurial activities and wisdom often formed the unacknowledged foundation of family legacies, community development, and generational wealth. Its placement in the 'Punuka Associates' HQ marks the structure as a modern economic centre in the heart of Africa's busiest city - Lagos!
