Daughter August 7th, 1960

A young Ivorian girl is adorned in traditional textiles and cauri shells—small sea shells tied to adornment and cultural identity. Her braided hair and the balloons she holds reflect the colors of the national flag—orange, white, and green. Referencing Côte d’Ivoire’s independence on August 7, 1960, marking its liberation from French colonial rule, the work moves beyond portraiture. The child becomes a quiet symbol of a nation’s beginning—carrying innocence, resilience, and the promise of self-determination.