Maadi and Siya | The Legend of Wagadou

Medium: Acrylic on Hand-Crafted Wood Canvas
Dimensions: 47.3" x 33.6"
Availability: 1 of 1 Original  Please enquire for acquisition details.

Maadi and Siya | The Legend of Wagadou is a poignant reimagining of sacrifice, love, and loss set in the ancient Wagadou Empire. This original painting was commissioned by The National Gallery as part of the NG200 programme and draws compositional inspiration from Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian, housed in the National Gallery collection.

The legend tells of Siya, a young woman chosen as a sacrificial offering to Bida, the fearsome seven-headed serpent who demanded annual tribute in exchange for rain and gold. Accepting her fate with quiet dignity, Siya was bound to a golden stool beside a sacred well. But her lover, Maadi, could not bear to lose her.

Despite Siya’s warnings, fearing the serpent’s defeat would break the empire’s prosperity, Maadi defied destiny. As Bida emerged from the well, Maadi struck the final blow, killing the serpent and rescuing Siya. Yet in its final breath, Bida uttered a terrible curse, dooming Wagadou to drought and decline.

This is a one-of-a-kind original artwork.
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