BRAND GISTS 

 BRANDS IN NIGERIA

Mobile communications in Nigeria, which way?

    If you are a regular follower of this blog, you will note that this blog, apart from arts and culture, it is also about brand gist. I choose to write on brands because of my love for products and marketing. My background as an advert person also contributes to that choice. just to inform you also, I used to publish a marketing paper sometimes ago, called Alade market and Allen Avenue Shopper's Digest in Ikeja Lagos. I always wonder how brands in Nigeria are performing and how brand owners are treating consumers. Are consumers at the mercy of producers? How satisfactory are the performances of leading brands in Nigeria?- brands like GSM, banking, educational, oil and gas and more. Lots of questions. Let's try to provide answers to these questions together. How is your MTN, Airtel, Etisalat, Glo, etc are performing? What about unsolicited text messages? Why on earth should somebody in his right frame of mind will be debiting you for a programme you never subscribed for in the first instance? They even have the gut to tell you that "your account will be automatically renewed and an amount will be deducted. imagine.Your contributions are welcome. Feel free to tell us your personal experience with some of these brands. Let's read your comment.

20 Contemporary Nigerian Artists you should know:
Tola Wewe, (Painter):

Tola Wewe

Tola Wewe was born in 1959 in Ondo State.
He graduated from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1983 specialising in painting.

He also did his masters in visual art at University of Ibadan in 1986.Tola Wewe's interest in art began during his childhood, when after the rain, he would draw in the dampened earth in front of his father's house in the village, often repremanded by his parents.

Tola Wewe, Kunle Filani, Bolaji Campbell, Tunde Nasiru and Moyo Okediji are considered to be the founding members of a movement called ONA in 1989. He was a lecturer at Adeyemi college of education, Ondo for sometime before retiring to full time studio practice.

He has participated in several solo and group exhibitions allover. Some of his works include: reclining mermaid;from the forest of ghost; and market women in the street.

 TUNDE KELANI: Another well-deserved cap.

Tunde Kelani and Nike Okundaye

 Tunde Kelani, was honoured with the ‘The Custodian of Yoruba Culture’ award, amidst fanfare, in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

According to reports from The Nation Newspaper, The ceremony was organised by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and the Yoruba Redemption Foundation, at the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

Read T.K. comments: “In an interview with The Nation, TK, who was full of joy over the honour, said: “I’m excited about the award.  It also suggests that people have taken note of my works and interest in the Yoruba culture and tradition. So, I see it as an extension of what I have always done. It is, no doubt, encouraging.””

“When asked to state his responsibilities as the “Custodian of Yoruba culture”, the 66-year-old filmmaker further said:  “Like the mission statement of Mainframe Productions, we will not only produce meaningful films, but we will continue to document the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba language and culture.””

In one of my earlier postings on this blog, I said this man is an enigma.(read here) Tunde Kelani and Nike Okundaye: Two great symbols of our heritage.
Great minds think alike. Don’t you agree?

Legends of old Africa:
Oranmiyan: A great warrior.

Oranmiyan was the son of Oduduwa, he was noted to be a great warrior. In old age he retired into a groove, but if his people were attacked he emerged and dispersed enemies single-handed. One day, during a festival, when the city was full of people and some were drunk, a man called out to oranmiyan that they were being attacked. The old king came out on horseback and laid about the crowd, until the people begged him to stop destroying his own subjects. Then the shocked warrior drove his staff into the ground and said he would never fight again.It is said that it was turned to stone and so were he and his wife.Broken remains of stone have been dug up and fitted to restore the pillar, 'the staff of oranmiyan', which stands about twenty feet above ground, and studded with iron nails the pattern and meaning of which are disputed.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know
Jimoh Akolo:Painter and Art Educator. 
Born in Kwara State in 1935. 
1952 and 1955, he came under the direction of Dennis Duerden, an art teacher, at Government College, Keffi. In 1961, he obtained a Diploma in Fine Art, specialising in Painting.
Between 1964 and 1965, he was at the Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. where he obtained a diploma and Master of Science in Art Education. He was later appointed as Professor in 1983 by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he has been teaching since 1966. His works won the first prize in the Nigerian Festival of Arts and in the self-government Exhibition of Northern Nigeria. In 1961, one of his paintings won an honorary mention in the Beinnal at Sao Paolo, Brazil. He usually paints human activities and uses different colours that are not the natural colour of the figures.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Bisi Fakeye: (Sculptor): 
Fakeye was born in 1942 in Illa -Orangun, Osun State of Nigeria. He is a wood carver. He trained under his older brother, Lamidi Fakeye for five years before setting up his own carving studio in Lagos. He has exhibited his carvings in Nigeria and abroad. Some of his works include Sango in Mahogany, Destiny in wood etc.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
S.A.Adetoro:(Textile Designer): 
Alhaji Adetoro was born in Lagos and he had his elementary and secondary education there. After graduation from the then Ahmadiyya College at Agege, he worked briefly as a clerk in the Ministry of Communication and Nigeria Ports Authority, Lagos. Because of the in-born creativity in him , he proceeded in 1964 to study Fine Art at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. After graduation in 1968, he thaught Fine Art briefly at Ansar-ud-deen High School, Surulere. He later proceeded for a three-year post-graduate studies in textile design and decoration. He once worked at Yaba College of Technology in the Art and Printing Department as a Lecturer. Some of his works are : Lizard man(Batik), Royalty(Prints), Landscape(Batik)

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Felix Idubor:(Sculptor): 
Felix Idubor was born in 1925 in Benin City, Edo State.
 Initially, he was a self-trained Artist and became a member of Benin Carvers Association. He later studied Art at the Royal College of Art, London. Since then he has taught Art at Edo College, Benin City and Sculpture at Yaba Technical College and opened the Idubor Art Gallery in Lagos, where artists are trained. His many exhibitions in Nigeria included the Nigerian Independence Exhibition of 1960. He has also exhibited in Britain, Germany and Zambia. Some of his commissioned works include carved doors for the Oba of Lagos, a more than life-size sculpture titled Mother Africa in front of Nigeria's National Gallery of Modern Art, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Legends of Old Africa:
Oduduwa and Ile-Ife

The Yoruba regard Ile-Ife as their place of origin, as told in the creation myth.When great god had been sent to earth he became very thirsty and drank palm wine, and lay down to sleep. As he was away long time, god sent his brother, oduduwa to continue the work of creation. This he did and supplanted great god in ownership of the land. Oduduwa is regarded as the first king of Ife and the founder of their race. He was a strong personality.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Demas Nwoko:( Painter and Sculptor)1935. 
He was first inspired by the series of artworks on the walls of his father's palace, the Obi of the town. While attending a secondary school in Benin City, he was lucky to have an Art teacher who thaught him the basic principles of art. He later entered the Nigerian College of Arts , Science and Technology, Zaria, where he trained and graduated as a painter and sculptor adopting the expressionistic style of the traditional African art from which he draws his inspirations. He has participated in many exhibitions within and outside Nigeria. He exhibited at the Mbari Gallery in Ibadan and also featured in the Independence exhibition of 1960. Some of his works include Adam and Eve, The Philosopher and Boy.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Uche Okeke: Painter and Art Historian.
Uche Okeke was born in 1933 in Nimo, Anambra State. His interest in art started in his secondary school days when he collected Igbo folktales and wrote his first poems. In 1955, while he was working as a government clerk in Jos, he met Dennis Duerden, an expatriate artist working at the National Museum, Jos. Dennis Duerden encouraged him to study Art. In 1957, he entered the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, and graduated in 1961with a diploma in Fine Art specializing in Painting. He participated in many ehibitions both locally and internationally. Some of his major designs and projects are the Mural for the Nigerian Independent Pavillion, 1960 in which Demas Nwoko and Bruce Onobrakpeya were jointly commissioned. Some of his folktale drawings are Ogadili the terrible warrior and match of the masquerades, etc.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Lamidi Fakeye: (Traditional Carver)
He was born in 1925 in Illa - Orangun, Osun State. 
After his primary education, he became an apprentice to George Bandele Areogun, a well known carver for three years. He worked in the workshop of Father Kelvin Carroll at Oye-Ekiti between 1947 and 1951 and that of Father O'Mahomey at Ondo. Fakeye visited many European and America galleries, lecturing and demonstrating the Yoruba carving method between 1963 and 1966. His commissions include among others, wood relief door panels depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ at the University of Ibadan in 1954 and 1955, Church doors at Oke padi, Ibadan in 1956-1957. Fakeye until his death  was teaching traditional carving techniques at the Department of Fine Art, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
P.S: He thaugth me traditional carving techniques as an undergraduate in O.A.U Ile-Ife.

Tola Wewe, Mama Bakassi and Mama Nike at a function.

Tola Wewe (extreme left), Mama Bakassi(extreme right), with Nike and Pa okundaye at a function.

Check this pix, and see if you can identify Tola Wewe, a renowned artist and Mama Bakassi, 
a renowned activist. Look at the outstanding Gele of Mama Nike too.
 Is this not beautiful?

Another "BIG FISH" in Nigerian Art promotions.

The Founder, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Foundation (OYASAF), Prince (Engineer) Yemisi Shyllon

This is the picture of Engineer Shyllon, a great supporter and promoter of arts at home and abroad. He is the founder and promoter of Omooba  Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Lagos.

 Mahmud Ahmadiyya College, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos visits National Theatre Again! 

National Theatre, group photograph of students of Mahmud Ahmadiyya College, Ijede and a student with Mrs Taiwo Lawal in a nice posture during the first visit.

The National Gallery of Art situated at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos hosted the students of Mahmud Ahmadiyya College, Ijede for the second time recently. The visits were  organized by Nath Ogunyale, (nathogunyale.bloggers.com) as part of the fulfillment of  the Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) scheme of work requirement for Junior Secondary School Students. The students confirmed that they had a WOW! time during the visits.

 A Celebration of African "Gele" (head tie)

 Look at this picture above. You can't miss it. The African touch, the elegance, the beauty. Where else can you get that if not from Africa?.

The magic of "Iyan" (Pounded Yam)

Various shades of eating "IYAN"

If a European can be savouring the delicacies of our own "Iyan with obe efo riro", Why will you not appreciate our own food. Our food speaks volume of our culture. It is an identity. We must preserve and promote it. There is no way you eat "Iyan" with a  cutllery set  and you rightly claim to enjoy it. The man has learnt that important lesson. You can see him using his god- given fingers to do justice to the bowl. Kudos.

 A Profile on Chief Mrs Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery
 

Mrs Nike Okundaye and one of her paintings.

"Over the years, Nike has used her arts as a means of empowerment, fight social challenges such as prostitution and poverty by training over 5000 Nigerians free of charge in the making and designing of Nigerian textile and various creative arts."

"Many higher institutions in Lagos now come on excursion with their students studying Fine and Applied arts, to any of the four centres of Nike centre
 for arts and culture for detailed tutorials in embroidery and weaving."

"Nike says she owes everything to her grandmother who taught her the art of embroidery, weaving and the rest, because she was a great adire maker in their village."

"Nike can beat her chest and say that she has received no support from government, the niche she has carved for herself through using arts and crafts as a means of empowerment , and in tracking social challenges such as prostitution, poverty, gender issues among others has attracted the attention of governments across the globe." T.K and MamaNike

Read this: "Nike art gallery situated at Plot 2, Elegushi Road, Ikate roundabout, Lekki is open to other artists to exhibit their works free." Can you beat that?

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
Ladi Kwali: Traditional Potter. 
She started the art of pottery in the traditional apprenticeship at the age of Nine. 
She continued in the traditional apprenticeship techniques creating non-functional cooking pots.These pots were decorated with mythical and common creatures such as lizards, spiders, crocodiles, chameleons, and scorpions, and some were glazed with herbs in the traditional way. Ladi worked with Micheal Cardew, an English potter who opened a Pottery Training Centre at Old Abuja for a brief period. Her skills in shaping and decorating of pots earned her an Honorary doctorate (Ph.D) degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She however, later dropped the traditional open firing methods and herbal glazing methods and picked up the modern kiln firing and glazing methods. This resulted in her pots being finished in a high metallic gloss. Her products can be found in museums in England, Holland, and theUnited States of America.

African Animal Fables.
Why the Tortoise is a taboo

Why the tortoise is a taboo

Story, story...s-t-o-r-y. Once upon a time , a green bird was out for hunting, And it came in contact with a sea tortoise with a scally shell just coming out of the water.
The Tortoise, though lived in the sea, told the green bird about its interest in meeting and knowing the people and the earth. The bird said that it was easily done and he would act as a guide.
So they set off for the interior. The tortoise found it had to walk, because of its flat feet, and began to complain. But the bird had no trouble, jumping from tree to tree and resting in the shade.
It made fun at the tortoise at first, but then took pity on it. The bird said it was a magician and would make better feet for the Tortoise.
This was done and they went on with their journey.
A little later, the bird dropped some dirt on the tortoise accidentally, and the tortoise called it filthy. The bird got angry and flew off leaving the Tortoise to find its way back by itself.
That is how the sea tortoise became a land tortoise.
Ever since then the land tortoise and its children have wandered about, without finding the sea.
So, its flesh is a taboo, for god made it for salt water, and men can only eat animals that live on land.

Unfinished painting, inspired by this fable. 3'x2' oil on canvas. painted by Nath ogunyale.

Zeynep from Turkey visits Nike Art Gallery too.

This is the face of Zeynep, an African Art lover and a beauty to behold. She is from Republic of  Turkey. She came along with her friends, visiting  Nike Art gallery, Lekki, Lagos. And i had a chat with her. When asked about her feelings on the works displayed at Nike Gallery, She says; The artworks are very interesting. Could this be a case of "oyinbo" appreciating our works more. Kudos to you, Lady Zeynep, I hope to see you in Nigeria when next you come. Is that a deal?

Lady Zeynep from Turkey

Nath Ogunyale visits Nike Art Gallery, Lekki.

Mama Nike And Nath Ogunyale at Nike Gallery

 I was at Nike art Gallery to see madam Nike. And i also saw her husband, Chief Okundaye, a very interesting man to be with. With him, there is no dull moment. Time cannot be enough to do a thorough job at that gallery. I promised to be there next time and next time and next time again. Above is a picture taken with madam Nike Okundaye on that day. (never mind the height disparity) You would not have seen this picture in any other place.

Baba and Nike Okundaye

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists You Should know

Akinola Lasekan, 1916-1972 (painter and cartoonist)

Lasekan was born in Owo, Ondo State in about 1916. He started to practise art on his own after he left school. In 1941, he became a freelance artist. he started as a textile designer and later became a cartoonist, a painter and illustrator. His best known works are the portraits of Sir Winston Churchill and six allegorical paintings entitled Nigerian in Transition. He was the daily cartoonist of West Africa Pilot Newspaper from 1948 to 1961. He rose to become Acting HOD, Fine Arts Department, University of Enugu, Nsukka.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know

Ben Enwonwu (painter and sculptor) born in 1921.

Ben Enwonwu learnt carving from his father when he was young. He was encouraged to pursue art between 1934 and 1937 by Kenneth C. Murray at Government College, Ibadan. He was later trained at Slade School of Art, London, among many other training abroad. His first one man show was in 1942 at the Exhibition centre, Marina Lagos. His first group show was in  Zwemmer gallery, London. These were followed by other exhibitions within and outside Nigeria. He did Sango, outside NEPA building , Marina. Anyanwu was also made and placed at The Lagos Museum onikan.He did the Risen christ in wood at Universisity of Ibadan. Enwonwu strongly believes that Nigerian artists should express their cultural identity through the use of western techniques without copying western art.

Older works of Ben Enwonwu

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know

 Solomon Wangboje (Graphic artist and Art educator)
Solomon Irein Wangboje was born in 1930, in Edo State of Nigeria. He first trained as an artist in 1959 at the former Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, where he obtained a diploma in Fine Arts, specialising in graphic design. He later got his MFA degree in 1963 at USA, and his PhD in art education also from USA in 1968. Apart from his untiring effort in encouraging young artists to utilize their talents, he has had many one-man and group exhibitions of his works within and outside Nigeria. Some of such prints are Desert Journeys and the romance of the headload 1 and 11.

Romance of the Headload:Wood print by Solomon Wangboje

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know.
Twin Seven-Seven (Taiwo Olaniyi)
He participated in Oshogbo, Mbari-mbayo art workshop organised by Ulli Beier in 1964. At this workshop, he was encouraged  along with other young guys who were uneducated enough to gain admission into high school to use african methods of expression using a variety of media for art productions. He is an artist, musician, folk dramatist, and a dancer. His early works were delicate pen and ink drawings which were coloured and varnished. Twin seven-seven has had many one-man and group shows within Nigeria, London, U.S and Germany.

Twin Seven-Seven Paintings

20 Nigerian Contemporary  Artists you should know

Jimoh Buraimoh (painter/mosaicst)
He was one of the Osogbo Artists, at the mbari-mbayo art workshop organised by Ulli Beier. He sticks tiny  glass beads on plyboard and apply coloured paints in some parts. His bead paintings and mosaics can be found at Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ori olokun, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and at the entrance of National Arts Theartre, Iganmu, Lagos. He has had many exhibitions throughout Africa, West Germany, Netherlands, India, England and the United States of America.

Peacock: A Bead painting by Jimoh Buraimoh

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know: Number 5: Abayomi Barber

 

" Portrait painting of former Nigerian President Sheu Sagari" by Abayomi Barber

Abayomi Barber is a renowned Nigerian artists born in Ile – Ife, Osun State. He is a Graphic Designer, Painter and Sculptor.  Barber trained at Yaba Technical Institute (now Yaba College of Technology) and Central School of Arts and Craft, London between 1960 to 1962. He has taken part in several joint and one man art exhibitions both in Nigeria and abroad.
Most of Barber’s works are in public and private homes in Nigeria and abroad. These include: Statue of Sir Wilson Churchill, in London, Life bust statue of Late General Muritala Muhammed, Life statue of Chief I. O. Ogun in Abeokuta, “Oduduwa” a painting on canvas treated with sands, African Maiden (oil) and FESTAC ’77 among others.

Abayomi Barber. A reknowned Nigeria Artist

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know: Yusuf Grillo

Number 4: Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know: Yusuf Grillo

Painting of Yusuf Grillo

Yusuf Grillo (born 1934) is a contemporary Nigerian artist known for his inventive works and the prominence of the color blue in many of his paintings.
Grillo is considered one of Nigeria's outstanding and academically trained painters; he emerged to prominence and international recognition in the 1960s and 1970s, while exhibiting a large collection of his early works.
He makes use of his western art training in many of his paintings, combining western art techniques with traditional Yoruba sculpture characteristics. His preference for color blue in natural settings paintings, is sometimes similar to the adire or resist-dye textiles used in Nigeria.

Another painting of Yusuf Grillo

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know: Dele Jegede

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist You should know: Number 3: Dele Jegede

Dr. Dele Jegede is a renowned Nigerian from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State of Nigeria. He trained at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he graduated as a painter and the prize winner of his set in 1973. He also did his PhD in Art history from Indiana University, Bloomington USA.
Dele Jegede is a good illustrator, cartoonist and art critic. He was the Art Editor of Daily Times before he became a research fellow at the Cultural Studies Department of University of Lagos.  He has taken part in several one man and joint art exhibitions in  Nigeria and abroad.

"Durbar" : By Dele Jegede

Legends of Africa: ODUDUWA

The Yoruba regard Ile-Ife as their place of origin, as told in the creation myth.
When great god was sent to earth he became very thirsty and drank palm wine, and lay down to sleep.
As he was away long time, god sent his brother, oduduwa to continue the work of creation.
This he did and supplanted great god in ownership of the land.
Oduduwa is regarded as the first king of Ife and the founder of their race.
He was a strong personality.

A famous bronze head representing an early King, from Ife, Nigeria,
where some of the finest African Art flourished from the thirteenth century A.D.

Any wrong doing by Oduduwa in this story? Let me have your comments.

Legends Of Africa: ORANMIYAN

The staff of Oranmiyan, Ile-Ife.

 Oranmiyan was the son of Oduduwa, he was noted to be a great warrior. In old age he retired into a groove, whenever  his people were attacked by enemies,  he emerged and dispersed enemies single-handed.
One day, during a festival, when the city was full of people and some were drunk, a man called out to oranmiyan that they were being attacked. The old king came out on horseback and laid about the crowd, destroying his own people unknowingly, until the people begged him to stop destroying his own subjects.
 Then the shocked warrior drove his staff into the ground and said he would never fight again.
Oranmiyan was said to have turned into stone.
Broken remains of stone have been dug up and fitted to restore the pillar, 'the staff of oranmiyan', which stands about twenty feet above ground, and studded with iron nails.
Africans are really creative. What do you think?

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artist you should know.Number 2: Bruce Onabrakpeya

A typical work of Bruce Onabrakpeya

 Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya (born 30 August 1932) is a Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor. 

He has exhibited at the Tate Modern in London, the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and the Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden.

Since 1966, as an experimental artist, Onobrakpeya has discovered, innovated and perfected several techniques both in printmaking and relief sculpture that are uniquely Nigerian.

See this BUM-BUM Billboard.

There is no level people can't go to, all in the name of branding and advertising.
Can we call this BUM-BUM billboard? or what. This company is hiring students to wear sweatpants with an advert.  stamped at their butts. Why? They believe that there are some bad guys who spend too much time starring at the butts of girls. In the process, they read the advert. by all means. A girl will be paid about $500 to hand ad flyers to potential patrons, while using their backsides as a mobile billboard. About 600 women applied for this job almost immediately. Can you beat that? If you are a lady, will you apply for this type of job? And ,if you are a guy, will you stare at the billboard? Please, I want an honest answer.

All hail University of the People, for the people, by the United Nations.

When are we going to have a tution-free university in Nigeria? The United Nations recently launched what they claim to be the world’s first tuition-free online university. Can you imagine this? Dubbed University of the People, the site aims to bring education to the masses. One Shai Reshef, head of the venture, has ambitions of giving free textbooks, e-learning, and peer-to-peer teaching to hundreds of millions of people with no access to conventional teaching methods. This is wonderful. Can you beat that?  According to the UN, students will be placed in classes of 20, after which they can log on to a weekly lecture, discuss it with their peers, and take tests online. Volunteer professors, graduate students, and students in other classes offer additional training. We need such of this in Nigeria, as a matter of urgency. Do you agree with me?

Ghana Local Artists strike Gold.

This movie poster was painted and  exhibited by local artists in Accra, Ghana. The artist named Afutu says that the painted poster will attract people to go and watch the movie.
" In his quest to entice cinema-goers, Afutu spares no detail: if a movie is bloody, his posters will be bloody; if there's nudity, there's nudity on the poster."   "The way they will think of the movie will be (as) a wicked or hard movie.
"Imaginative reworkings in Ghana has seen an influx of cash as its economy expands on the back of new-found oil and its longstanding exports of gold and cocoa, creating a growing advertising culture for a rising middle class".
" Interpretations of Hollywood blockbusters by local artists are coveted by art collectors and can sell for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars."

Exhibition of movie posters painted by Ghana local Artists. (Artdaily.com)

"These are really creative people."

See the new Zinsou Museum in Ouidah, Cotonu, Republic of Benin.

The newly renovated Villa Ajavon, now the new zinsou museum in Ouidah, Cotonu.

This picture shows the renovated villa Ajavon, which was originally built in 1922, where the new Zinsou museum and contemporary arts center has been established, in Ouidah, Republic of Benin.
 The small coastal town of Ouidah, some 40km from Cotonou, long known for being one of the embarking points for many African slaves on their way to America, is now home to the new Zinsou museum and contemporary arts center of the villa Ajavon, where the works of fourteen renowned African artists are currently on display. The Zinsou foundation opened in 2005 at a building in Benin's largest city of Cotonou, where access was free to view both African and foreign art. The foundation attracted four million visitors in eight years, mostly students under the age of 15. As it became more established, the Zinsou Foundation began acquiring a diverse collection of contemporary African art, with the goal of opening a permanent museum. (Copyright: artdaily.com)

How the Leopard got its Spots.

I asked you to share your animal fables with my readers . Here is my own fable.
I dont have a copyright on this. Initially, Leopard was very friendly with the fire. Every day the Leopard went to see the fire, but the fire never visited him in return. This went on so long that the Leopard's wife mocked her husband, saying it was a poor sort of friend who would never return a visit.When he went out the next day she quarelled with him and said it must be because his house was unworthy that his friend would never come to it. So the Leopard begged the fire to come to his house on the next day.
At first the fire tried to excuse himself, saying he never visited. But the Leopard pressed him, and the fire said he never walked but if there was a road of dry leaves from his house to the Leopard's then he would come. The Leopard went home and told  his wife what to do. She gathered leaves and laid them in a long line from one house to the other. She and her husband prepared their house ready to do honour to the fire. While they were waiting they heard a strong wind and loud cracks outside the door. The Leopard went to see what was the matter and it was the fire at the door. His fingers of flame touched the Leopard ,but he and his wife leapt backwards and jumped out of the window. Their house was destroyed, and ever since then the Leopard and his wife have been marked all over their bodies with black spots where the fingers of fire touched them. That is the end of my story. Interesting...

African Animal Fables.

African stories is laced with animal fables a lot.Some of these animals are pictured with human feelings.Some are pure fantasy, others are projections of human desires. Examples are: why frogs croak; why the snake shed its skin; why bats fly only at night. etc. Do you know any African fable you will want to share with my readers. Go ahead and send it. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Top 50 brands in Nigeria

Here is an opportunity for Nath Ogunyale's blog readers to help build a list of 50 top brands in Nigeria?
Just send your own nomination and I shall publish it. Mention a reason, at least, why you nominate the brand.
Expecting your nominations.

20 Nigerian Contemporary Artists you should know.
The countdown has started.
I will be featuring some great Nigerian Artists and their works from now on. You may nominate names and pictures of works of those you think should be included and why you think so.

Paintings of Kolade Oshinowo

My first mention is Kolade Oshinowo. As far as I am concerned, he is the most prolific Nigerian Artist to date. A great Master. Let me know your view. Do you agree or disagree? Be on the look out for the second personality.

Tunde Kelani and Nike Okundaye: Two great symbols of our heritage. 

I saw this picture on my facebook, and was fascinated by it. I agree with this title hundred per cent. What about you?

TK and Mama Nike, Two great symbols of our heritage.

Ibinabo Fiberesima, appointed as a member of the board of the National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC).

I read a news item that says that Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Actors Guild of Nigeria President, (AGN) Ibinabo Fiberesima as a member of the board of the National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC). The inauguration was done yesterday in Abuja.

 

The appointment is coming less than one week after the fair-skinned actress led other thespians on a courtesy visit to Aso-rock, Abuja. 

 

My questions are:  How many visual artists are on the board? When will Society for Nigerian Artist (SNA) plan to pay a visit to Aso rock and collect their own share of the National cake?

Can somebody provide answers to these questions?

CAGAFEST 2014: A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN AND ARTS.

Children Arts Garden Festival (CAGAFEST 2014) is expected to hold this year in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The organiser of the event; INUMIDUN Arts and Culture intends to invite children from most Junior Secondary schools in Ikorodu environs to a day of fun, arts, dance and chops. Sponsors are welcome.

INUMIDUN Arts and Culture Ventures : The Birth.

Arts and Culture in Nigeria and in Africa are in for a jolly ride with the establishment of Inumidun Arts and Culture. Powered by Nath Ogunyale. More gists about this new baby soon.

Aina Onabolu , pioneer artist in Nigeria.

Aina Onabolu is noted to be the first Nigerian Artist to have introduced the teaching of arts in Nigeria schools. Which year was that? Picture above is some of his works.