Dimkpa

George Edozie’s Dimkpa is a tall giant sculpture of a man with layers of fabric that join at different points to form its giant-sized figure. The fabrics are brightly coloured and form the base on which the sculpture stands tall with arms akimbo. The sculpture’s chest and head are raised high, showing poise and elegance, with some dance beads tied around its ankles, resembling some traditional masquerades in Nigeria. The artist created this piece using iron support in the form of a man, on which he tied the fabrics in bits and pieces to look like layers of rags. Having worked on many fabric sculptures, the artists used this piece as a figurative representation of African leaders and showed it for the first time at the National Museum, Lagos.

“They don’t listen to anybody or whatever they listen to is not right”, the artist says. “That figure stands very proudly; he raises his head up as though listening to no one. It shows the power the African leader possesses; they can do anything”. George Edozie describes “Dimkpa” with the Igbo proverb “Dimkpa eze onye agwana m” which means “a strong king that nobody can talk to”. The king, represented by this sculpture, is stubborn and incorrigible.