Nigerian Modernism - Hardcover

by Osei Bonsu (Editor)

Set against the backdrop of cultural and artistic rebellion, this is a fascinating exploration of the artists who revolutionized modern art in Nigeria

The end of the Second World War witnessed the rise of Pan-African solidarity movements and the increased migration of African artists to European cosmopolitan centers. During Nigeria's struggle for national independence in particular, artists drew upon diverse cultural traditions to navigate the country's evolving social and political landscape, resulting in a rich and diverse body of work. This richly illustrated publication explores the multidirectional development of modern art in Nigeria from the period of British indirect rule to the years of national independence and postindependence, considering Nigerian art in relation to themes and ideas of Christian and Islamic art, traditional African sculpture, Indigenous knowledge systems, and Nigerian poetry and literature. Through their inventive and dynamic approach to art making, Nigerian artists challenged common assumptions and colonial narratives of African art within a global history of modernism. The book presents an historical overview of artistic perspectives with over 300 works by more than 50 artists spanning the period from 1945 to 1995. They include Akinola Lasekan, Ben Enwonwu, Ladi Kwali, Clara Ugbodaga-Ngu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Uche Okeke, and Obiora Udechukwu. Highlighting the ways in which artists, writers, and intellectuals negotiated the legacies of traditional Nigerian culture, European colonialism, and international networks of artistic modernity, Nigerian Modernism presents an important chapter of African art-historical life and reveals the enduring legacies of diverse traditions and artistic languages.

Author Biography

Osei Bonsu is curator of International Art at Tate Modern, where he is responsible for organizing exhibitions, developing the museum's collection, and broadening the representation of artists from Africa and the African diaspora. In 2020, he was named as one of Apollo magazine's 40 under 40 leading African voices.