The USA Mission awarded the U.S. Alternate Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award to 3 distinguished Nigerian artists Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, and Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya—in recognition of their contributions to the humanities and the longstanding cultural relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria.
In keeping with a press launch from the U.S. Consulate Basic Lagos workplace, the award commemorates 50 years of U.S.-Nigeria inventive collaboration.
The assertion notes that every artist first visited america over 5 a long time in the past via the U.S. Division of State’s Worldwide Customer Management Program (IVLP).
U.S. Ambassador, Richard Mills, introduced the awards, commending every artist’s dedication to their craft, their mentorship of rising artists, and their contributions to fostering cultural ties between the U.S. and Nigeria.
“Artwork has the ability to attach folks and communities worldwide,” he mentioned. “For this reason we supported these applications 50 years in the past, proceed to assist them now, and can hold supporting them sooner or later.”
For this reason we supported these applications 50 years in the past, proceed to assist them now, and can hold supporting them sooner or later.”
Founding father of the Nike Artwork Gallery, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, is reported to have taught conventional Nigerian artwork kinds like adire and batik to college students worldwide. Her works are displayed internationally, together with on the Smithsonian’s Nationwide Museum of African Artwork in Washington, D.C.
Particulars notice that Buraimoh’s artwork has been exhibited globally, and he has taught at revered establishments, together with Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and a number of other universities throughout the U.S.
Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, 92, stays a distinguished determine in Nigerian artwork, contributing via portray, printmaking, set up, and sculpture.
He expressed appreciation for the award and inspired younger artists to remain devoted to their work.
“I’m very excited and inspired. I’ll proceed to pay it ahead by nurturing future expertise within the trade,” he mentioned.
Onobrakpeya additionally acknowledged for illustrating Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease, has proven his work internationally, together with within the Smithsonian’s exhibition “The Masks and the Sword.”
A collaborative occasion highlighting U.S.-Nigeria connections: The occasion was organized by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria in collaboration with the Rele Arts Foundation and Lauren Tate Baeza, Curator of African Artwork on the Excessive Museum of Artwork, with assist from Delta Airways.
It highlighted the deep cultural connections between the U.S. and Nigeria, together with the 50-year Sister Cities partnership between Lagos and Atlanta.
