When did it happen?
Was it the first time you went grocery shopping by yourself?
Or was it when it was okay for you to stay when the “adults” were talking?
When was it that those strangers started to have perverted comments, sending knowing glances your way?
Letting their eyes trail down these curves that you so recently acquired and hardly acknowledged yet, in a displeasing way
Or wait! It must have been the last time you shed tears, scared not to be considered man enough.
Burying your feelings and emotions under these sculpted reassuring facial expressions That, you know someday will be to your kids, your only capable emotion
...
No, it happened that one day you felt as though you had a purpose in life
That one day you started working towards it.
That was : your coming of age.
— Mariama (Atou) Kane

• Recycled fabric, Bogolan
• 46 x 17.5 inch
• 2024