Matene

2017 | Acrylic on Canvas, Framed

This Rwandan artwork depicts a woman holding the unique and significant bird known as the Matene, which holds a renowned story among the Rwandan people. Spotting this bird is a challenging endeavor, as it exclusively appears during the spring season. Where there is one Matene, there are often hundreds of others. The bird's allure lies in its remarkable ability to transform the color of its beak to a vibrant red during the spring, attracting a gathering of other birds. Capturing a Matene is extremely difficult, almost impossible. Yet, according to legend, possessing a feather from its tail has the power to make any girl in the world fall in love with you. The painting portrays a bird delicately rolling its tail on a woman, evoking a sense of movement and enchantment in her surroundings.

See more artwork by Tony Girimbabazi