As April draws to a close, we’re excited to bring you the 2nd edition of our Disruptors of the Month.’ This month, our focus is particularly special as we celebrate female artists across the continent. Our celebration aligns with World Art Day, which we observed on April 15th, recognizing the profound impact art has on society. At ElectHER, we harness art as a pivotal tool in driving behavioral change communications.
This edition features female artists who are using their mediums—from photography to music and sculpture—to challenge the status quo and promote gender equity and awareness of gender-based violence. These powerful women exemplify how art can not only move us emotionally but also propel us into action, reshaping societal norms and inspiring transformative change.
Mary Sibande
South Africa- sculptor, painter, and installation artist whose work interrogates the intersections of race, gender, and labor
Mary Sibande’s work delves deep into the fabric of gender issues by bringing to the forefront the lived realities of black women in a society marked by racial and gender oppression. She utilizes sculpture, painting, and installation art as tools for introspection and critique of the roles historically assigned to women, particularly black women in post-apartheid South Africa.
Her artistic narrative engages in a profound dialogue about gender-based violence, shedding light on the traumas that black women endure. Sibande’s approach is nuanced, aiming to represent the strength and vulnerability of these women without falling into the traps of objectification or sensationalism. In her quest to address these sensitive topics, Sibande’s work maintains the integrity and agency of her subjects, often depicting them in powerful postures that challenge submissive stereotypes.
By creating pieces that confront the audience with the stark reality of violence against black female bodies, Sibande not only raises awareness but also sparks discussions on the systemic nature of such violence. Her work transcends mere representation; it is an act of reclaiming space and narrative, demanding a reckoning with the cultural and historical forces that continue to shape the experiences of gender and labor in contemporary society. Through her art, Sibande amplifies the voices of those often silenced, and in doing so, she carves out a path towards healing and empowerment.
Sister Fa
Sengalese- Rapper and Activist
Sister Fa is a trailblazing Senegalese rapper and activist dedicated to combating gender-based violence and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through her music and public advocacy. With her debut album “Sarabah” and her “Education without Mutilation” tour, she blends art with activism, using her platform to educate and drive cultural transformation towards gender equality.
Sister Fa wields her influence in music and her personal journey as a platform to address gender issues, particularly the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). As a Senegalese rapper, she has broken ground not only in the male-dominated hip-hop scene but also as a voice against gender-based violence. Her advocacy is deeply personal and her music is a channel through which she raises awareness and calls for change.
Her debut album, “Sarabah,” and initiatives like the “Education without Mutilation” tour blend art with activism, resonating with communities and especially with young people. Sister Fa educates on the dangers and the deep-rooted cultural implications of FGM, encouraging a shift from tradition to transformation. Through her lyrics and her outreach, she has become a formidable figure in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality, underscoring the power of music as a tool for social change and empowerment
Wangechi Mutu
Kenya – Visual Artiste
Wangechi Mutu is a Kenyan-American artist whose multidisciplinary work challenges traditional depictions of women by blending self-image, gender constructs, and cultural narratives with environmental motifs. Her distinctive collage paintings, which integrate found materials with natural elements and African textiles, celebrate the strength and resilience of the female form, particularly African women, defying conventional beauty standards and promoting gender empowerment.
Wangechi Mutu’s artistic narrative is a compelling journey into the heart of gender issues. Through her work, Mutu explores the constructs of self-image and gender, weaving in threads of cultural trauma, environmental concerns, and the complex dance between beauty and power. Her paintings, sculptures, films, and performances are not mere creations; they are bold statements challenging the traditional representations of women, particularly African women, in art and society.
Mutu’s signature collage paintings offer a stark deviation from passive femininity, presenting African women in a multitude of empowering forms. Her pieces often integrate found imagery from fashion magazines, medical diagrams, and ethnographic documents with natural materials and traditional African fabrics. The result is a series of hybrid figures that defy and redefine conventional beauty standards and the role of femininity.
Her art is a testament to the resilience of the female spirit and stands as a powerful commentary against the objectification and marginalization of women. By combining the grace of African textiles with the rawness of organic elements, Mutu invites viewers to reflect on the struggle of women, especially those from African descent, offering her work as a medium for gender equality and a celebration of female empowerment. Through her visually arresting collages and installations, Mutu champions a new understanding of femininity, one that honors strength, complexity, and the enduring power of the female form.
Lalla Essaydi’s
Morrocan Photographer
Lalla Essaydi is an artist who challenges the perceptions of Arab womanhood through her photographic works, which feature women inscribed with calligraphy and set against Islamic architecture, offering a critical perspective on gender roles within traditional Islamic societies. Her art reclaims female identity in the Arab world, creating a dialogue of defiance against historical constraints and empowering the narrative of women’s experiences and stories.
Lalla Essaydi’s art is a profound exploration and critique of gender issues, particularly within the context of Arab womanhood. Through her photography, often featuring women adorned in calligraphy against Islamic architecture, Essaydi challenges the Western notion of the passive Oriental female as well as the constraints imposed on women by traditional Islamic society.
Her works reclaim the narrative of female identity in the Arab world, turning a critical eye on the cultural and religious codes that have historically muted women’s voices. By inscribing women’s bodies with calligraphy, a sacred Islamic art form traditionally reserved for men, Essaydi’s images become spaces of defiance and dialogue. The text, often derived from her own personal experiences and stories, serves as both armor and assertion of the women’s presence and agency.
Essaydi’s series, such as “Converging Territories” and “Les Femmes du Maroc,” are more than aesthetically striking; they are politically and socially charged, pushing the viewer to reconsider the complexity of gender, culture, and identity. Her work not only tackles gender issues but also confronts the viewer with the realities of women’s lives in the Middle East, encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich tapestry of Arab female identity.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s
Nigerian Visual Artist
Njideka Akunyili Crosby is a leading contemporary artist known for her mixed- media works that explore identity, gender, and cultural belonging, often drawing from her own experiences as a woman. Her series like “Predecessors” and “The Beautyful Ones” not only celebrate the spiritual and resilient nature of women but also challenge stereotypes, fostering a reevaluation of gender roles and black female identity in art and society.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby stands at the vanguard of contemporary art, not only through her visually arresting mixed-media works but also through her incisive critique of gender norms. Her pieces weave intricate narratives of identity and belonging that resonate deeply with personal stories and lived experiences as a woman. By infusing her artworks with the rich, multifaceted tapestries of women’s lives, Crosby challenges the entrenched stereotypes that have long pervaded not just the art world but society at large.
Her acclaimed series, such as “Predecessors” and “The Beautyful Ones,” are more than just visually stunning; they are acts of empowerment, celebrating the spirituality, power, and resilience of women. Crosby’s portrayal of diverse female characters and stories is a profound commentary on representation, one that encourages viewers to reassess their own perceptions and the narratives they uphold about black women.
Through her art, Crosby engenders a dialogue about gender equality, urging an acknowledgment of the myriad roles women occupy. Her work does not shy away from complexity; instead, it embraces and exalts it, offering an empowering mirror for women and girls to see their reflections not as they are often portrayed but as they truly are — multifaceted, powerful, and resolute.
In essence, Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s art becomes a powerful counter-narrative to oppression, a celebration of the richness of women’s experiences, and a call to action for gender equity and the celebration of cultural identity. Her art serves as both a reflection and a beacon, championing the cause of women and marginalized communities through the compelling force of visual narrative.
That wraps up our spotlight on the inspiring ElectHER disruptors for March! Do you know a female disruptor changing the narrative in her space? Tell us here!
Stay tuned for next month, where we’ll be introducing another exceptional group of changemakers.