While it was much of a worry for many Abuja residents, especially, art lovers and collectors to throng the venue of the show, no thanks to the Iyanya bombings and spate of attacks at the outskirts of the capital city of Nigeria, art enthusiasts actually filled up the venue. This was indeed staggering!

Nigerian painter and multimedia artist, Nkechi Abii, on the 26th of May, 2014 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, celebrated the power of African woman through paintings, mixed media, fashion and installation. The exhibition was entitled ‘Petals of Steel : Celebrating Womanhood.

‘Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there’s no else above you?
You feel my heart with gladness,
Take away all my sorrows,
Ease my troubles that’s what you do.’
– Rod Stewart

Women are role models. confidant, mothers, advisers, motivators and beautiful figures. Someone once told me, when you have a woman around you, then you have added more knowledge into your life. In fact, you have added a greater value of prosperity into your life.

The woman is the salt of the earth. She is a soul -softener for the heart. All over the world, the woman forms an integral part of life. In fact, chivalry starts from the woman. Don’t forget she’s a prayer warrior, her cacophonic voice is needed in world’s rhymes. The woman is simply a masterclass.

If the word diva is being used in visual art, then Nkechi Abii is a diva. Nkechi is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary mind and nature. She actually left the art industry primarily for motherhood. Then fashion business crept in.

But Nkechi Abii’s art is like music. So rock and roll and stylishly bluesy. Sometimes afrobeat or highlife that gives her higher life but definitely unique.

She is a mother of three of Igbo stock, known for their resilience and hardwork. She once granted this writer an exclusive interview at her posh apartment in highbrow end of Ikeja and revealed how the title for the exhibition came about. “It was more of a family thing. Everyone was trying to give a name for the show which was very good. For me, at that period, I needed concentration on the project at hand which involves creativity. My sister was the project manager of the show and I owe her so much gratitude for her encouragement and support. Petals are usually associated with flowers which also conform to the woman’s emotional nature of being a soft human specie. The steel came from the enormous strength and courage of the woman to sail through the storm. It was something the team deliberated on and they came up with such a title. As for me, I was lifted,” Nkechi explained.

She has had a couple of exhibitions with her friends and soulmates such as Ndidi Dike, and few other collaborations before launching a couture business that’s now her signature.

Nkechi Abii combines brain and beauty, devotion and commitment to her art and projects, to have come back with first “Genes Apart ” a collaborative effort with her son Nduka in Lagos.

She got us kicking and moving inside Transcorp Hilton with her plethora of paintings, fashion ensemble and installations. Over forty paintings and installation series were displayed at the show that commanded noveau-riche with emotional and inspirational titles like Gelaria series, Violated and Traditional Laundry to mention just a few.

Gelaria series, truly brought out the artistic expression of the African woman when it comes to fashion. They are simply pacesetter. And the artist, a designer, put all her artistic vision to make Galeria series, a collectors item.
Violated exposes the inhuman behaviour of exploiting the woman in our daily lives and in different manner

Through her creations, the artist celebrated the woman from rural folk to the urbane culture. And every work on display, install or hang, speak and pass a positive message to the enthusiasts that thronged the venue to simply appreciate woman passionately.

The exhibition came at the time, when Africa, was at the threshold of negative publicity. Negative reviews about Africa’s economic and political stories abound. Insecurity abound. No trust between the politicians and the electorate. Terror acts were all over Africa. And the victims being mostly women, adolescent girls and children.

It was about the same time, the celebrated disappearance of over 250 ‘Chibok girls’ that were adopted by a terrorist group known as ‘Boko Haram’ in Maiduguri, a city in northeastern part of Nigeria. Then, the adoption was already running into the 50th day.

Nkechi Abii’s exhibition didn’t only celebrated the woman, but, also, address some of the engaging issues concerning the woman and girl child in our society with the Chibok girls adoption saga. “Everyday people, from my family, friends, neighbors, activities, news reflection give ideas to my creative mind to soar, she admits.

While it was much of a worry for many Abuja residents, especially, art lovers and collectors to throng the venue of the show, no thanks to the Iyanya bombings and spate of attacks at the outskirts of the capital city of Nigeria, art enthusiasts actually filled up the venue. This was indeed staggering!

The exhibition recorded enormous success. Corporate support from popular telecom giant Airtel and support from individuals and groups lend credence to the show. It was a great party. “I still don’t know how we arrived at that decision to take the exhibition to Abuja for crying out loud. Maybe it was divine, we wouldn’t complain,” Nkechi Abii explained.

Interview/Words/Ireho Aito /photographs /Nkechi Abii’s archives