"Since childhood, fathers have a critical impact
on their daughters’ lives as they are both their first guides to the
outside world and their first reflections of themselves, symbol of
recognition of their own value. A healthy and uninterrupted relationship
between a father and a daughter greatly helps to create a positive
self-image and therefore will have a positive influence on her
aspirations and relationships. When this relationship is suddenly broken
for some reason, the daughter’s cycle of identity development is also
interrupted. Adolescence and preadolescence are critical times where
young women build themselves: their body change, they make a transition
from girls to young women, and in this transition, the father’s role is
important. " - Source:
https://medium.com/@andreabomo/why-we-should-all-care-about-the-fatherless-daughter-syndrome-5fe527e22cc5
At
the age of 5, I inherited some of the traits from father absence and
abandonment. At the age of 13 which was in 1989, my father remarried.
As
a high school student from 1991 - 1993, I was always surrounded by men
and had numerous opportunities where I was able to share my skills and
talents in the area of the arts in schools and galleries.
As an adult, I lost several of my god fathers due to heart attack which include Doc Barnett Williams and Tony Duncanson.
One
of the reasons why I work with Esther Productions, Inc since 2004, is
because it gives me the opportunity to touch other girls and women
through my own personal and professional style in the area of arts and
education.
If you have not experienced this issue, please do not judge others that have.
Commissioned Photography for Baba Djimo Kouyate Smithsonian Folklife Festival, 1997, Washington, DC Photograph by Ms. Afrika Abney "Djimo Kouyaté (August 16, 1946 - August 1, 2004). Djimo Kouyate was from the Malinké tribe, a sub-group of the Mandingo people. Born in Tambacounda, Senegal, he was from a distinguished family of griots who trace their ancestry back to the thirteenth century. A master kora player and a fine singer and dancer, Djimo also played a variety of other instruments including balafon (wooden xylophone), drums, and other string instruments. He worked with the Senegalese National Ballet as a singer and dancer since 1960, and was a founding member of the National Instrumental Ensemble of Senegal."