By Tajudeen Sowole
One of the early sets of
higher insitution-trained visual artists in Nigeria, Prof Uche Okeke has passed
on. Okeke, aged 82, died in his native home, Nimo, Njikoka Local Government, Anambra State after many
years of battle with stroke, which confined him to wheel chair.
The artist's daughter, Salma-Uche Okeke stated
he died in his home town on Tuesday afternoon. Her father, she explained, left
Lagos January last year and has been "struggling" with his health
issue since then.
Okeke
came into limelight as one the young students from the then Nigerian College of
Art Science and Technology, (now Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaeia in the
late 1950s, who were later known in the art parlance as 'Zaria Rebels'. Among other
colleagues of Okeke were master printmaker, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya; master
painter and sculptor, Yusuf Grillo; and architect, Demas Nwoko. The artists, specifically were known for their
art philosophy called 'natural synthesis', which was then seen as a deviation
from the focus of the westernised teaching in art academia.
Born in
Nimo, (now under Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State), Okeke started
his education at St. Peter Claver’s (Primary) School,
Kafanchan, proceeded to Metropolitan College, Onitsha; and Bishop Shanahan
College, Orlu.
As Head of Fine Arts Department at the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in the 1970s, Okeke introduced Uli
art tradition into the institution's programmes. Among other notable strides of
Okeke, outside the Zaria environment was his promotion of ulism, an art
identity of native Igbo women. In fact, one of his students at UNN, Ndidi Dike.
shortly after his death described him as Uli master and patriarch of
many art movements: "Prof Uche
Okeke was a unique trail blazer, Artist, Historic pioneer of Uli, natural
synthesis and modern contemporary Nigerian Art," Ndidi, a prominent
contemporary artist said.
Okeke was
Director, Institute of African Studies, UNN; Visiting Professor to the
Department of Creative Arts, University of Port Harcourt; Honorary Deputy
Director-General (Africa) of International Biographical Centre, Cambridge,
among other strides in academia. In 1981 to '82
he was Honorary Fellow, Department of Textile and Clothing Design, and Art
History, University Minnesota, USA (1 year sabbatical leave).
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