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| Demas Nwoko (photos by Anthony Nsofor) |
On October 23 the Goethe-Institut (German Cultural Centre), Lagos, hosted the formal presentation of
Ezumeezu: Essays on Nigerian Art & Architecture, a Festschrift in Honour of Demas Nwoko (published by
Goldline & Jacobs Publishing, 2012) coedited by Obiora Udechukwu and me. Few if any could remember being in one room with such artistic and literary eminence in Nigeria. In the room was the celebrant, Demas Nwoko, arguably Nigeria's most important architect and leading member of the 1960s avant-garde. His closest friends Bruce Onobrakpeya and Uche Okeke, both members of the legendary Art Society at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria (1958-61) were there. There was JP Clark, the preeminent poet and writer, as well as novelist and first Nigerian editor of
Nigeria Magazine (1962-66) Onuora Nzekwu. Igwe Nnanyelugo Nnaemeka Achebe "Agbogidi" (Obi of Onitsha), and Oba Gbenga Sonuga (who before his coronation was a noted theatre scholar and practitioner), were in attendance. From the art world, we had Jerry Buhari, Ndidi Dike, Olu Amoda, Tony Nsofor, Emeka Udemba, Chinwe Uwatse, George Nwadiogbu, Oliver Enwonwu, Ada Udechukwu, Tunde Soyinka and many others; also the collectors Yemisi Shyllon and Folabi Kofo-Abayomi. Toyin Akinosho (leading art critic) and Jahman Anikulapo (editor
Guardian on Sunday; and compere for the event), my two colleagues at Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) were present, along with journalists from
The Guardian,
National Mirror and
Nigerian Compass. The architect Jilian Hopwood showed up; the book,
The Architecture of Demas Nwoko, she recently authored with her partner and architect John Godwin was available in the stand. I was thrilled to have in the room my classmates at Nsukka (1990 class), now media executives Bedford Bokromo and Goziem Ufodike, and my seniors Reginald Akuchie (publisher, Black Trend Magazine), Chijioke Onuora (Associate Dean of Faculty of Arts, at Nsukka). Memorable is the word!
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| At the high table, from left: Igwe Nnanyelugo Achebe "Agbogidi" (Obi of Onitsha), Demas Nwoko, J. P. Clark and Oba Gbenga Sonuga |
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| Jahman Anikulapo (editor of The Guardian on Sunday), was the compere |
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| Marc-Andre Schmachtel, Director of the Goethe-Institut, Lagos giving his welcome |
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Frank Ugiomoh of University of Port Harcourt, the book reviewer
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| The artist and writer, Ada Udechukwu |
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| Nwoko's life-long friend and influential artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya |
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| The artists Chinwe Uwatse, and Ndidi Dike (back to viewer) |
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| My mother, Joy Okeke-Agulu |
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| Ndidi Nwuneli of LEAP Africa, and artist Onyema Offoedu-Okeke |
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| Obiora Udechukwu |
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| The musician Ori Okoro (left), Obiora and Ada Udechukwu |
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| with good friend and artist Jerry Buhari |
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| The editors with Father Akosa Emodi, Ada Udechukwu, and Joy Okeke-Agulu |
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| Standing, Photography critic Tam Fiofori and J. P. Clark, with Bruce Onobrakpeya seated lower left |
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| Ifeoma Uche-Okeke and Ndidi Dike |
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| Demas Nwoko, Chief Okey Ononye, Oba Sonuga, "Agbogidi," and J. P. Clark |
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| Demas Nwoko with part of the Okeke-Agulu family: Chika, Mama, Okwudili and Ejike |
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| Demas Nwoko greets my mother |
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| Demas Nwoko with Oliver Enwonwu, President of Society of Nigerian Artists |
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| From left, Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, Chief Okey Ononye, and J. P. Clark |
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| Oba Sonuga with Bruce Onobrakpeya |
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| Obiora Udechukwu with architect and award-winning environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey of Environmental Rights Action. Bassey is one of the contributors to the book. |
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| Standing: artists, Emeka Udemba, Oliver Enwonwu, and Victor Ehikhamenor |
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| Frank Ugiomoh (second from left) with Udechukwu (center) and his former students at Nsukka: my classmates, Goziem Ufodike (left), Bedford Bokromo (3rd from right); Uche Nwosu, and Chijioke Onoura whose interview with Nwoko is included in the book. |
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| Igwe Achebe formally presenting Ezumeezu. The conclusion of a journey that began years ago |
