Tod 1996

Manuela Sambo created ‘Tod,’ a seventy by ninety-six centimetre painting, at an unknown date. Sambo was born in Mozambique, a country that only gained independence from Portugal in 1975, prior to her birth in 1964. We can read her practice as part of a wider movement towards cultural independence from colonial influence. The painting depicts a figure with striking features, dominated by a large hat. The restricted palette of greys and blacks creates a somber mood and a stark contrast between the figure and the background. Is this figure a representation of death, as the German title "Tod" suggests? Or is it an exploration of identity, a symbol of resistance against cultural erasure? The interpretation of art requires thorough research into the artist's background, the cultural context in which they operate, and the socio-political issues they address. Understanding ‘Tod’ means diving into Mozambique’s colonial history and post-colonial identity.