Younousse Sèye

Younousse Sèye (born 1940) be a Senegalese artist den actress. Na dem consider am Senegal ein first woman painter, she be best known for ein mixed-media works wey dey incorporate cowrie shells. She get no formal training insyd either visual art anaa acting, she achieve success insyd de post-independence Dakar art scene wey she appear insyd chaw major films by de Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène.

 Early life 
Na dem born Younousse Sèye insyd 1940 insyd Saint-Louis, Senegal. She begin dey paint as a teenager, wey she receive no formal training. However, she learn sam techniques from ein mommie, wey na she be a fabric-dyer. After she study stenography, she marry wey she move go Dakar, wer na she work as a secretary wey she care give ein young family.

 Art 
Na Sèye be part of de first generation of Senegalese artists wey dey follow de country ein independence from France insyd 1960.

Léopold Senghor den Félix Houphouët-Boigny na dem be among de high-profile collectors den supporters of ein work. Na she work for public commissions give de offices of de Organisation of African Unity insyd Ethiopia den Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport insyd Dakar, among odas.

Insyd 2003, she co-found de nonprofit art collective Le Collectif Artistes Plasticiens.

Sèye dey work insyd mixed media, wey dey combine oil painting plus embellishments, most notably cowrie shells. While she sanso be known for ein marble carving, she be best known for ein "clever and sustained use" of dese shells, wey dey explore dema persistent symbolic weight as part of a pan-African visual vocabulary, wey dey symbolize everytin from currency to womanhood. Ein work dey frequently deal plus gender, wey na she long be an advocate give women's participation insyd society, dey push ein patron Presido Senghor make he include women insyd ein government.

Ein work dey incorporate elements of Négritude den Pan-Africanism, buh plus a critical distance. However, na dem consider am notable for de time for ein style "free of the influence of the French classic tradition."

Na ein position as a successful female artist insyd de Dakar art world insyd dis period be unique, wey na dem describe am as Senegal ein first woman painter. Early insyd ein career, na she often be de woman per dem include insyd major exhibitions.

 Acting 
Sèye sanso be an actress, although she receive no formal training insyd acting. She begin dey act insyd films as a young woman, wey she go on go play chaw strong female roles.

She be best known for ein appearances insyd chaw films by de Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène. She debut insyd Mandabi, ein first Wolof-language film, insyd 1968. She then portray Aram insyd Xala insyd 1974, plus de film wey receive significant international recognition.

Decades later, insyd 2000, she san collaborate plus Sembène, wey she play de lead role insyd Faat Kiné under de stage name Venus Seye.

 References 

Category:1940 births
Category:Human
Category:Senegalese women artists
Category:Senegalese painters
Category:Senegalese actresses
Category:People wey komot Saint-Louis, Senegal
Category:Senegalese people
Category:Senegalese women activists