Flora Wirgman
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Sekoto first travelled to Senegal at the invitation of the president, Leopold Senghor, to exhibit at the 'First Festival of Negro Arts' in 1966. The artist remained in Dakar for a few months after the convention, immersing himself in local life. During this period, Senghor lent Sekoto his car and chauffeur so that he could visit the village of Casamance. The artist was struck by the grace and beauty of the people he encountered here. He made many sketches, which he translated into oil paintings on returning to Dakar.
Sekoto believed that the trip liberated him artistically. The sunny climate, the stately pace of life in Casamance, the inherent grace of the residents, were sources of inspiration:
"My looser and freer lines were aroused during my stay in Senegal...but the slow, elegant movement of the people was mostly fairy-like to me, more especially since I did not speak the language to be able to extract the real feel of the people in my own way. They are difficult to penetrate and there was also the barrier of religion." (A letter from the artist to Barbara Lindop, 1968)