PHOTOS: She Was Not Dreaming by Marcellina Akpojotor | Installation View

‘Daughters of Esan’, is a generational story of timeless ambition and one woman who saw into the future.

The series depicts five generations of women (Akpojotor’s great-grand mother, her grand-mother, her mother, herself and her child) with roots from Esan – an ethnic group that occupies central Edo State.

Akpojotor chronicles her family’s journey to fulfilment of the radical vision of her great grandmother – Eboheide Anara Ikhisemoojie.

Ikhisemoojie who was born in 1910 had wished to receive an education and was not able to. Her strong desire to be educated set the tone and paved the way for the other generations to reach various academic levels.

Ikhisemoojie’s assertion of knowledge being a key path to liberation inspired Akpojotor’s ‘Power Series’ where she has portrayed strong women, some in elegant, confident poses while some appear to be reading books.

The ‘Power Series’, is an ode to the countless women who are being empowered all around the world, just as her great grand mother sought to do with her family.

The great artist Elizabeth Catlette once said “I have always wanted my art to service the people – to reflect us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential” This quote resonates in the works Akpojotor has created for “She Was Not Dreaming”.

As a mother to a woman-in- progress, Akpojotor is passionate about empowerment. “I want my works to contribute to the conversation on how to make the world a better place for generations of women and men to come”.

See photos below.