Fine Art / Visual Art · Lesson 7

Onabolu, Murray, Enwonwu, Zaria, Nsukka, Osogbo and other artists; institutions

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: art institutions, organisations (SNA, NSEA, INSEA, NSIAD, NAAC, Ona, Ulli, Eye Society), outstanding contemporary artists; modern traditional art (Oshogbo art). JAMB Section B 5(a)–(d): Zaria, Nsukka, Osogbo; Onabolu, Enwonwu, Wangboje, Akolo, Jegede; museums, galleries, art centres; NSEA, SNA, NCAC.

WAEC: art institutions, organisations (SNA, NSEA, INSEA, NSIAD, NAAC, Ona, Ulli, Eye Society), outstanding contemporary artists; modern traditional art (Oshogbo art). JAMB Section B 5(a)–(d): Zaria, Nsukka, Osogbo; Onabolu, Enwonwu, Wangboje, Akolo, Jegede; museums, galleries, art centres; NSEA, SNA, NCAC.

NECO: art institutions, organisations (SNA, NSEA, INSEA, NSIAD, NAAC, Ona, Ulli, Eye Society), outstanding contemporary artists; modern traditional art (Oshogbo art). JAMB Section B 5(a)–(d): Zaria, Nsukka, Osogbo; Onabolu, Enwonwu, Wangboje, Akolo, Jegede; museums, galleries, art centres; NSEA, SNA, NCAC.

What you will learn

Distinguish contemporary from traditional art.
Assess the pioneers and their contributions.
Explain the Zaria, Nsukka and Osogbo schools.
Describe key artists’ works, techniques and styles.
Explain functions of museums, galleries and art centres.
Evaluate art organisations and movements.

Key points

Contemporary art: individual artists, new media, galleries.
Onabolu: pioneer realist and educator.
Murray: African themes; taught Enwonwu.
Enwonwu: Anyanwu, Tutu, Queen Elizabeth.
Zaria 1958; Natural Synthesis 1960.
Nsukka: Uli line; El Anatsui.
Osogbo: workshops 1962–64; Mbari Mbayo; Wenger and Osun grove.
Wangboje, Akolo, Jegede, Kwali, Fakeye, Idubor.
Museums preserve; galleries show/sell; centres teach.
SNA 1963; NCAC 1975; FESTAC 77.

Start here: What is contemporary Nigerian art?

Contemporary (modern) Nigerian art is the art produced in Nigeria from about the beginning of the 20th century, using new materials, techniques and ideas (easel painting, oil and watercolour, printmaking, cement sculpture, photography, digital media) while often drawing on Nigerian themes and traditions. It differs from traditional art in several ways:

Traditional	Contemporary
Mainly for ritual, royal or communal use	Mainly for exhibition, sale, decoration, expression
Anonymous artists, guild or family training	Named artists, often school or university trained
Local materials and set conventions	Imported and new materials; individual styles
Patrons: kings, priests, communities	Patrons: galleries, collectors, companies, government

Forces that shaped it

Colonial education: art was taught in some mission and government schools; Western realism was the standard.
Pioneer artists who proved Africans could master European techniques (Onabolu).
Art schools and universities from the 1950s (Yaba, Zaria, Nsukka, Ife, Benin, Auchi).
Nationalism and independence (1960): artists sought a modern African identity.
Workshops run by expatriates and Nigerians (Osogbo, Ori-Olokun, Harmattan).
Exhibitions, galleries, festivals (FESTAC 77) and the art market.

WAEC asks about “outstanding contemporary West African artists: their training, style, achievements and contributions”; JAMB names Onabolu, Enwonwu, Wangboje, Akolo, Jegede “etc.” and the Zaria, Nsukka and Osogbo groups.

Periods in brief

Historians often describe three phases: (1) pioneers (about 1900–1950: Onabolu, Murray’s pupils); (2) independence generation (1950s–1970s: Zaria, Osogbo, Nsukka, Ori-Olokun); (3) post-1980s (Ona, Eye Society, AKA, installation, photography, the global art market). Placing an artist in a phase helps you explain influences in an essay.

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Practice questions

1. The father of modern Nigerian art is

Aina Onabolu
Ben Enwonwu
Uche Okeke
Kenneth Murray

Show answer

A: Aina Onabolu
Pioneer of realism and art education.

2. Onabolu painted a portrait of Mrs Spencer Savage in

1957
1922
1963
1906

Show answer

D: 1906
Early outstanding work.

3. Kenneth Murray came to Nigeria as an art teacher in

1957
1960
1927
1906

Show answer

C: 1927
Brought at Onabolu’s urging.

4. Ben Enwonwu’s bronze of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled in Lagos in

1975
1959
1956
1966

Show answer

B: 1959
5 November 1959; sittings in 1957.

5. Enwonwu became the first Professor of Fine Art at the University of Ife in

1971
1955
1960
1990

Show answer

A: 1971
Held until 1975.

Key words

Contemporary art: Art of the recent era.
Easel painting: Portable painting on canvas.
Realism: Accurate depiction of appearance.
Natural Synthesis: Blend of African and Western art.
Manifesto: Public statement of aims.
Workshop: Practical training session.
Uli: Igbo line-based design.
Nsibidi: Cross River sign system.
Plastography: Onobrakpeya’s relief print method.
Deep etching: Acid-etched relief printing.
Installation: Art arranged in a space.
Residency: Funded period for artists to work.

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