I was one of 15 wives, until art helped me escape

Nike Davies Okundaye, better known as Mama Nike came from a family of artisans, skilled in producing traditional adire cloth much prized by Nigerian royalty. However, the family was not wealthy, and she lived in an area where polygamous marriages were common. To avoid such a marriage at 13 she ran away from home several times, at one point joining a travelling theatre. 

Partly driven by her desire to practise art, she later married a well-known artist, however he also married another 14 women. Despite infighting between the wives, Nike taught them the traditional adire making skills she had learnt as a child, and when she eventually left her husband all the other wives wanted to follow her.  Since then, Nike has encouraged many more women to develop their artistic skills, sell their work and gain financial independence. She is now an internationally recognised artist and gallery owner.

Presenter: Tommy Dixon
Producer: Julian Siddle

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(Photo: Mama Nike wearing brightly coloured clothes and jewellery that she has created, stands in front of a painting showing women in traditional Adire cloth. Credit Tommy Dixon)