Sarah and “Oracle Woman”: Art as Memory and Strength

Sarah Ndele is a visual artist who works with painting, sculpture, and performance. Her art is based on a strong idea she calls “keeping the root”. This means staying connected to history, especially the stories of strong women from the past who are often forgotten.

“Oracle Woman” by Sarah Ndele

She is inspired by women like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Kimpa Vita, and Joan of Arc. Sarah does not copy old artworks. Instead, she creates new pieces based on these women’s stories. For her, art is a way to study history and give it new meaning in today’s world.

Her artwork called “Oracle Woman” shows this clearly. In this piece, she shows a woman as a guardian—someone who protects her people, her culture, and her history. Sarah made this work while thinking about the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, her home country. In some wars, women are attacked to hurt and weaken entire communities.

But “Oracle Woman” does not show women as victims. Instead, the woman in the painting is strong and loving at the same time. She is ready to protect those she loves. Sarah used a palette knife to create texture and added shiny colors and handwriting to the surface.

The woman in the artwork holds a staff, which is a sign of power and leadership. Some people may think they see wings or doves, but that is not the case. These shapes are symbols of spiritual strength.

One special detail is the cat paw prints on the canvas. These prints show the quiet, careful steps of women. They move softly but leave a strong mark. They watch, protect, and care without needing to be loud.

The colors in the artwork are soft and warm. They show the tender side of women, the part that gives love and comfort. For Sarah, this kind of softness is also a form of power.

“Oracle Woman” is a personal work. Sarah made it after reading and feeling moved by the stories of great women in history. She also feels sad that many women today don’t have strong role models, because many female figures have been erased from history. Her art tries to fix this—to teach, inspire, and reconnect people with important women from the past.

For Sarah, art is not just something beautiful. It is a way to heal, to tell stories, and to speak out.“Oracle Woman”is not only a painting—it is a message. It asks us to remember strong women, to learn from them, and to carry their strength into the future.