In the village, everyone’s mother is ours. Mama takes care of all. Mama ensures everyone is safe and well, keeping our culture of care alive through her gentle strength.
We are delighted to present Tyna Adebowale’s second solo exhibition in the gallery. They Call You Mother; They Call Me Mama focuses on the lived experiences of grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren. In Adebowale’s community of the Uneme, many women eagerly anticipate this stage of life, viewing the nurturing of the next generation in their “grand lineage” as a vital and fulfilling part of their maternal journey.
These new series of works pay homage to the remarkable strength and resilience of traditional care structures, which are sustained primarily by women but increasingly threatened by capitalist ways of living. It honours women’s unwavering commitment to caring for their community––regardless of children being of their own blood or not––and celebrates the cultural importance of nurturing the lineage.
The project celebrates the spirit of communal nurturing by documenting the complexities and joys of continued caregiving. At the same time, it gently argues that these often selfless women deserve more rest. Beyond honouring their strength, the work invites us to imagine and advocate for a culture that grant women the rest and recognition they have long earned. Rest should be seen as justice–an inherent right, not a reward–because patriarchy extracts endless labour from older women.
Adebowale’s research on 'motherwomb' and motherhood draws inspiration from her great-aunt, Mama Nii Dezedo, a vital figure in the Uneme and neighbouring communities who, despite having no biological children, was a mother to all.
