There Are No Tigers in Africa

This work (from the series Bitten by a Tiger) is inspired by Delacroix’s painting Indian Woman Bitten by a Tiger. It reflects the artist's engagement with politics. Due to the conflict between Soyinka and Senghor over the question of African identity, we are faced with a moral misunderstanding caused by the political rivalries of the Cold War in Africa.

The concept of "tigritude" (the nature of the tiger), put forth by Soyinka, was a response to Senghor’s "negritude", which was based on the idea of a black essence inherent to African identity. The lesson to be drawn: African identity is trapped in an essentialist logic. One only escapes one form of essentialism through another.

Soyinka says: “The tiger does not proclaim his tigritude; he pounces.”
Senghor replies: “The tiger does not speak (because the Negro speaks in his place).”
The problem is, there are no tigers in Africa.

Let me know if you want a more poetic version or an annotated one!

— Hassan Musa, 2010