Pride Comes Before the Fall
"Pride Comes Before the Fall" is my visual interpretation of the Yoruba proverb made popular by legendary Nigerian juju musician, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey: "Afopina tóní òun ó pa fìtìlà, ara ẹ ni yóò pa." Translated, it means “The moth that boasts it will extinguish the lamp will only have itself to harm.” The painting offers a visual reflection on the self-destructive nature of arrogance and unchecked pride. At its centre burns an oil lamp, a symbol of clarity, life, and purpose. Drawn by delusion and desire, a moth ventures too close, its wings already consumed by the very flame it seeks to conquer. The barren tree and textured ground evoke solitude and inevitability, while the star-filled night sky speaks of forces beyond our control. Above, the moon and stars bear silent witness to the unfolding drama. This work is both personal and universal. It is a warning that reckless ambition, especially when aimed at extinguishing light or truth, of...