Ben Enwonwu Remembered

About 18 years after his death, pioneer indigenous visual artist, Professor Benedict Enwonwu has been honoured in Lagos. The occasion was the 9th Distinguished Lecture Series to commemorate his life and work. The ceremony drew a large crowd of artists, arts collectors, friends, and students. Master printmaker, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya delivered the lecture.

The guest speaker paid tribute to the deceased, describing him as a pillar upon which many young artists, including himself climbed to limelight.  In the view of Onobrakpeya, Enwonwu “can be described as the father of visual arts in Nigeria. I worked under him in his studio when I just came back from the Nigeria College of Science and Technology, Zaria in 1962. Indeed he was a mentor, through him I came to realise the importance and power of mentoring in the lives of young people,” he noted.

Speaking on the theme, “Informal Art Education through Workshops: Gains and Challenges as Lessons from the Harmattan Workshop Series,” the celebrated printmaker and illustrator stated that it is easier to acquire artistic skills through relaxed settings than the confined and often regimented nature of the classrooms.

Using his personal experience with his pet project the Agbara-Ottor Harmattan Workshop, he said the gains derived from informal settings include; bringing together people of diverse cultural and social strata together, thus promoting freedom of expression among participants. He also noted that materials for such practical experiments are sourced locally and the end-products have often ended up as masterpieces.

In her speech, Chief (Mrs) Opral Benson who chaired the ceremony eulogised Enwonwu, describing him as a Nigerian whose character is worthy of emulation. She praised the Ben Enwonwu Foundation for keeping the spirit and ideals of the man alive for nearly two decades after his death.

The late Enwonwu died in 1994. While alive, he was noted for challenging the perceptions of European critics who regarded African art as primitive. For the profundity of his work, he was awarded the Member of the British Empire, MBE.

Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu,  Chief Arthur Mbanefo,  Victor Edozie former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, art impresario Engineer Yemisi Shyllon, Sam Olagbaju and Carol Enwonwu, the deceased widow were some of the prominent guests in attendance.

—NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI