A review of Atim Nkese Nkpubre and Niran Adedokun’s book, An Unusual Biography: Wale Adenuga: A Pencil in the Hand of the Creator by Adewale Oshodi.
AN Unusual Biography: Wale Adenuga is the title of the book detailing the pains and gains of the humble artist. Very apt a title because in the end, his story is’unusual.’
Born into a polygamous and wealthy family, young Wale walked away from the easy money his father, Joseph Adenuga, had made as a big distributor in the Western region.
This was not an easy decision to make though as it initially caused a strain in the relationship between father and son.
Born in Gbongan in 1948, his pregnancy was an embarrassment to his mother, Lydia Adenuga, who was still breastfeeding a daughter when she suddenly realised that she was pregnant again. But grandmother, Iya Eleko, calmed frayed nerves and assured her daughter that all would be well. All has ended well as Wale has achieved fame and fortune making a living from drawing.
From the age of five, Wale not only loved watching Duro Ladipo, Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola and animations on TV, but could also draw each of the characters. Life in primary school marked the beginning of what would eventually be his calling in the world of arts. In college, he doubled up and was given a scholarship by the western region to study Business Administration at the University of Lagos.
The third and fourth chapters of the book reveal the times spent at Kings College, Lagos, and also the university.
Wale was instrumental to the revival of the campus magazine, The Viper, published by Aloha Club.
His cartoon page was all the magazine needed to rise from obscurity. He also met the love of his life, Ehimwenma Enoma Enadeghe, sweetly shortened Ehi by Wale.
In 1974, a year after the youth corps scheme, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established, Wale was posted to Bendel State (now Edo State) to observe the mandatory programme.
This was where the name for his widely popular magazine, Ikebe Super, was got. By that time, it was a word common only among Benin people. Back in the West, the back rear of women was called “Yansh”.
It was only a first publication of the magazine it took for the word to go viral, plus how much of flesh Wale put in the drawing – very big and rotund behind. The funny dialogue and characters easily sold the magazine to people back then.
By the time the magazine hit Lagos stands, circulation grew from 5000 to 35000 copies.
However, getting the magazine out there was not as smooth or simple as it appears. He was duped by a friend of the full deposit for the printing. Also, the launching was delayed by six months. This was not the only time he was duped by a friend. Again, all is well that ends well.
Wale fought to keep his magazine alive as another friend used military friends to stop the magazine from further publications, as well as having to fight for Ehi; her father never approved of the relationship because of a past experience in the hands of a Yoruba man while in Ogun State. Again, all is well that ends well. The marriage is blessed with five children and many grandchildren whom Wale and Ehi now enjoy dotting on, while the business has been handed over to the children. An irony of sort.
The 346-page biography, written by Atim Nkese Nkpubre and Niran Adedokun, brings smiles to the faces of the open hearted and tears to the faces of those tender hearted because of the many problems Wale went through, and how he was able to navigate all to becoming a success story. There are many more troubles as well as triumphs the man who has been putting smiles on the faces of people, first in print, now on TV.
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