THE Grim Reaper hit the arts community hard in the outgoing year, taking leading lights in literature, music, visual arts, performance arts and even art collectors. Though creativity blossomed with some milestones achieved, the high mortality recorded made it a horrible year. Creatives left in their prime and Nigeria; indeed, the world is lesser for it as the works of the departed transcended geographical boundaries.
The bell tolled for Curator and founder of the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos, Bisi Silva, on Tuesday, February 12. She was a passionate promoter of contemporary arts and artists. From humble beginnings in 2007, the CCA evolved to become one of the significant contemporary-art hubs in Nigeria. It hosted notable exhibitions and encouraged collaborations among artists, curators, writers and national and international organisations. Silva was a warm, cerebral and dedicated professional who continues to be missed.
On March 10, writer, teacher, mentor, public intellectual and humanist, Professor Pius Adesanmi died in the crashed Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 8 Flight 302. The Professor of Literature and African Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, was only 47 years old. The global outpouring of grief over his demise was heart-rending. Though he’s no longer on this side, he lives on in the minds of people who love him. He also lives in his numerous satirical articles and works including ‘The Wayfarer and Other Poems’, ‘You’re Not a Country, Africa’ and ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last.’
People were yet to come to grips with Adesanmi’s passing when news filtered in on March 15 that the Curator, art critic, writer and poet, Okwui Enwezor, had died of cancer aged 55. The critic who initially studied political science at what is now New Jersey City University was the founder of ‘Nka’, a journal of art from Africa and its diaspora. He was the only person to curate both the Venice Biennale and Documenta. Enwezor helped place non-western art histories on an equal footing with the long-established narrative of European and North American art.
The General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Dr (Mrs) Stella Moroundia Oyedepo, died in an auto-crash on Easter Monday, April 22. Her sudden demise sent shockwaves through the entire arts community, especially as she had shared an Easter message with friends and loved ones the previous day. Sadly, she had only spent about one year in the job with tangible results from her efforts to reposition the national edifice already yielding fruits.
Veteran filmmaker, Eddie Ugbomah, joined the saints triumphant on May 11 at the age of 79. He had been diagnosed with neck and head pain the previous year and was being prepared for surgery the morning he passed. He shot 13 movies including ‘Rise and Fall of Oyenusi’; ‘The Boy is Good’, ‘Black President’ and ‘Black Gold’ on celluloid.
Leading poet, editor, feminist and activist, Professor Molara Ogundipe, passed on June 18 in her home in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State. Aged 78, Ogundipe was one of the leading writers on African feminism, gender studies and literary theory. She was also a social critic celebrated for coining the term STIWA or Social Transformation in Africa Including Women Life.
Professor Ogundipe taught in many Nigerian and overseas universities: Ibadan, Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), University of Port Harcourt, Legon University in Ghana, Northwestern University and many other American universities.
On July 9, the lights dimmed for the dramatist, director, singer and choreographer, Nicholas Babajide Ogungbade, popularly known as Pappy Jyde. Born on August 21, 1952, Pappy Jyde, had to his credit numerous critically acclaimed artistic creations ranging from stage and radio drama, documentaries, poetry, prose, songs (secular and gospel) and contributed his creativity to some major films in the Nollywood field.
He was the Artistic Director of Ajo Productions (1983-86) set of plays and Ajo Festival of Plays (Ajofest) of 1986. His musical works mostly for the church, include: ‘Assurance’, ‘Take Control’, and ‘Oke Mimo.’
One of the leading contemporary artists, David Herbert Dale, laid down his sword at the feet of his creator on August 6. Born in 1947 to a Scottish father and Nigerian mother, Dale studied Fine Art and Art History at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1971, specialising in Illustration and Graphic Design. Though he had been poorly since 2013 and suffered two strokes before his passing, Dale never stopped working till his death. He worked in 23 different media including, charcoal, oil, beads, glass beadworks, watercolour, gouache, and stained-glass media. Others are, etching, epoxy, lino (block print) and gilded engraved block, mosaic, fresco, silkscreen (serigraphy) and painting.
Weeks later, leading art collector and owner of Nkem Gallery, Frank Okonta, joined Dale, whose works he also collected in the celestial realms on September 3. The retired civil servant and President, Art Galleries Association of Nigeria, played a vital role in the establishment of Art Expo Nigeria in 2008. He was a free soul who attended art exhibitions regardless of the artist’s status.
Ace broadcaster, Otunba Kunle Olasope, joined the heaven-bound train on October 6. He was the first male face and voice on television in Africa when Western Nigeria Television was established in Ibadan by the Western Regional Government of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Olasope (MON), was Chief Press Secretary to the late Ogun State Governor Olabisi Onabanjo between 1979 and 1983. He chaired Ekiti State Broadcasting Service under former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo.
On November 9, news filtered in from the US that Kehinde Lijadu, one half of the Lijadu Sisters fame had passed. The 71-year-old Kehinde joined the ancestors after battling complications from a 1996 fall from a staircase, leaving Taiwo all alone.
The Lijadu Sisters were a staple of the late 60s to the 80s until they relocated to the US over three decades ago. Their albums included ‘Danger (1976); ‘Mother Africa’ (1977), ‘Sunshine (1978) and ‘Horizon Unlimited’ (1979).
The Louise Durham Mead Professor of English, African, and African Diaspora cultural studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, Tejumola Olaniyan, died of heart failure on November 30. He was the author of several publications including ‘Taking African Cartoons Seriously: Politics, Satire, and Culture’ (co-edited with Peter Limb and ‘Arrest the Music!: Fela and His Rebel Art and Politic’.
On December 3, Christian Ifeanyichukwu Alianina, popularly known as Chris Hanen, also donned the celestial coat. The ‘Ozigizaga’ crooner had two albums, ‘Turning Point’ and ‘New Dawn. ‘From Ezhionum kingdom, Ukwani local council of Delta State, Hanen’s love for music started from childhood. It evolved until he became a recording artist. He participated in cultural dances, did acapella and later became a DJ. He started his apprenticeship by following musicians and playing for them before eventually releasing his albums.
Samuel Alabi Oludayo Akinpelu, popularly known as Alabi Yellow, also passed on December 22 in his Ikorodu, Lagos, home aged 62.He had suffered a stroke after his wife’s death in March. Alabi Yellow was a member of the late Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group and had delighted viewers alongside Tafa Oloyede and Baba Wande in several productions by the group. Akinpelu had no troubles transiting to video films and featured in several movies. He appeared in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Mokalik’ released earlier in May.
Mortality wise, 2019 wasn’t a good year for the arts. Death had a field day, scything down randomly. But as noted by the Yoruba, “bi Onirese ko ti ko fin igbamo, eyi to ti fin sile koniparun.” Meaning, if the master carver declines to produce more works, the exquisite ones he already created will remain indestructible. They are dead, yet they live because of their permanent works.
and then