The Woman with the Artistic Brush: A Life History of Yoruba Batik Artist Nike Davies

This is the life history of Nike Davies, one of the few African women known nationally and internationally in contemporary art circles. Nike's mother died when she was six and she learned to survive by selling what she could. When her father wanted to arrange her marriage she ran away with a travelling theatre group. Later she married and joined in the polygamous household of a noted artist from the popular Oshogbo school. After suffering through 16 years of domestic violence, she left the compound to establish a center for arts and culture that now has over 120 members. In addition to Nike's story, this fascinating book illustrates strategies developed by women to mitigate male rule and presents a critique of women's place in contemporary Yoruba society from the perspective of the women who live in it.