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Full Name:
Chief (Mrs.) Oyenike Monica Okundaye
Pen Name:
“Nike”
Date of Birth: May 23rd
1951
Place of Birth: Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State,
Nigeria
Marital Status: Married with
children
Titles Held: Traditional chieftainship titles of “Yeye Oba” of Ogidi-Ijumu land and the “Yeye Tasase” of Osogbo
land
Occupation: A professional Textile Artist and a Painter. |
Membership of professional
bodies
Society of Nigerian Artists, ASA of USA and Canada, ACASA, Society of Nigerian Women Artists, Osun Support Grove, etc.
Public Interests
Philanthropist.
Business Interest
Managing Director/CEO of Nike Center for Art and Culture, Osogbo where trainings are offered free of charge to all young Nigerians in various forms of art. The center was established in 1983, by Nike solely from her earnings as an artist and without government assistance. So far, over 2000 young Nigerians have been trained in the center by her and who are now earning livings through art. Nike is also the Proprietress/Curator of the Nike Art Galleries at Lagos and Abuja. In 1996, Nike established a textile (Aso-Oke) weaving center at Ogidi-Ijumu near Kabba in Kogi State for the women of the village employing and empowering more than 100 women in the cottage industry. In June 2002, Nike established an Art and Culture village at Piwoyi, FCT Abuja which also included an art gallery and a textile museum, the first of its kind in Nigeria which will provide an enabling environment for research into Nigerian traditional textile industry. In furtherance of these noble endeavors, Nike is currently the managing director of the following legal organizations; “Nike Art Productions Limited” which she incorporated in 1994, “Nike Art Gallery Limited” which she formally incorporated in 2007 and the “Nike Research Centre for Art and Culture Limited” which she incorporated in 2007. Also in 2007, Nike established with some notable eminent Nigerians as trustees, the “Nike Art and Culture Foundation” with the main aims and objectives of fostering Nigerian cultural heritage. An ultra modern art centre has just been completed by Nike at Lekki peninsula, Lagos for the promotion of art and culture in Nigeria. This building also holds Nike’s second textile museum.
Awards and Merits
- In May 2006, Nike was awarded one of the highest Italian national awards of merit by the government of the Republic of Italy in appreciation of her efforts in using art to address and solve the problems of Nigerian prostitutes (sex workers) in Italy. See more on this in paragraph 20 below.
- In 2005, the National Commission for Museum and Monument of Nigeria awarded Nike a certificate of excellence in recognition of her efforts in the development of Nigerian cultural heritage.
- In 2005, the Department of Fine Art, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife awarded Nike a certificate of merit in recognition of her efforts in the promotion of art education in Nigeria.
- In 2004, Nike was awarded an honorary certificate of merit by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Osun State Chapter in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of Nigerian cultural heritage.
- In 2003, a certificate of merit was awarded to Nike by the Okun Yoruba people of Kogi State of Nigeria in recognition of her efforts in youth development in Nigeria.
- In 2002, Nike was bestowed with an award of distinction by the National Association of Kogi State Students in recognition of her efforts in promoting Art awareness among the youths in Nigeria.
- In 2002, Nike was awarded and admitted as a fellow of the institute of The Pan – African Circle of Artists of Nigeria in recognition of her commitment to the promotion of art education in Nigeria.
Artistic Education and global actions
Educated by her great grandmother who was a weaver, an “adire” maker/dyer (Textile Artist) during her lifetime, the way parents passed vocational education to their children in Yoruba communities of Nigeria in those days. Nike’s father was a traditional royal drummer and baskets weaver during his days. In addition to the following major international shows, Nike has had over 102 solo art exhibitions and 31 group art exhibitions in her artistic life. Nike’s art works can be found in many private homes collections and public institutions collections including schools, colleges, universities, palaces and museums all over the world. Some of the major international shows she participated in are;
1. In 1974, Nike was one of the ten African artists who toured and taught arts in various crafts institutions in the USA. These tours were sponsored by USIS, Lagos. These trips took Nike to the fifty (50) states of America including the ice region of Alaska and the Virgin Islands of America conducting workshops and delivering lectures in schools and community centers.
2. In 1981, Nike’s work won the first price during the SOUTH WEST ARTS FESTIVAL in Washington DC. USA. And she was awarded many prices of honor at the end of the festival.
3. In 1983, The Nigeria Arts Council, Lagos sponsored Nike to represent Nigeria at a workshop held at the Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. During which period, her works attracted many arts collectors.
4. In 1985, Nike was one of the six women artists who exhibited at the African Heritage Kenya during the World Women Conference held in Nairobi. The UN sponsored her trip to that conference.
5. In 1986, Nike was the only Nigeria woman who represented Nigeria in an exhibition featuring African women artists held at the African Centre, London. That exhibition was sponsored by AKINA MAMA WA AFRICA, London. In
6. 1989, Nike and Sokari Douglas Camp were the only Nigerian women artists who represented Nigeria in an exhibition held at the women museum in Washington DC. USA.
7. In 1991, USIA sponsored Nike’s educational visits to many institutions of higher learning and museums in USA. This trip again took Nike to; Washington DC to deliver lectures and conduct workshops at the Howard University, the University of Maryland and the Rode Island School of Textile.
8. In 1991, Nike and Sokari Douglas Camp co-featured as the only Nigerian women artists in a film “KINDRED SPIRITS” produced by Smith Sonia on Nigerian artists which was a television documentary in USA. and Canada.
9. In 1991, during a conference of Black Artists held in Toronto Canada to celebrate African identity, Nike was sponsored by the CUSO of Canada to that conference as the only Nigerian artist who exhibited her art works and held workshops at that conference.
10. In 1992, Nike was the only African who represented the continents of Africa in an exhibition organized by BMW Company, Munich Germany during their anniversary celebration. Nike was accompanied by her cultural troupe to the show.
11. In 1994, during the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the UN, Nike was one of the 50 world artists selected to exhibit their works in a film; a documentary in-put for the anniversary that was exhibited in South African.
12. In November 1994, Nike exhibited her art works at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto Canada during the 37th annual conference of the African Studies Association of USA and Canada.
13. In 1995, Nike was one of the ten (10) African artists who had exhibition at the African Heritage in Nairobi, Kenya.
14. In 1996, Nike held an exhibition at the University of Tampa Florida, USA. The exhibition was followed by series of lectures and workshops she conducted at the department of fine art of the University.
15. In 1997, Nike held an exhibition at the prestigious ‘Schobgarten Galleria’ in SCHOBGARTEN, Germany.
16. In 1998, Nike held an exhibition at the University of Wisconsin, USA. This exhibition was followed by series of lectures she delivered at the department of African studies of the University.
17. Also in 1998, Nike went with her cultural troupe to Antwerp, Belgium to perform at the Wereld Cultural Center in Antwerp.
18. In 1999, Nike held an exhibition at Northern Michigan University, USA. The exhibition was followed by series of lectures and workshops she conducted at the department of humanity of the University.
19. In 2000, Nike was invited by the Federal Government of Nigeria to supply all the textile materials, which she designed for the Nigerian pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover, German. Her art works were also on display during that Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany.
20. In June 2000, Nike was invited to Italy by the CISV of Italy and Caritas of Italy to organize art exhibitions and art workshops in Turin to address the problem of female prostitution in that country. She mounted these art exhibitions and art workshops, which was largely attended.
21. In October 2000, Nike was invited with her cultural troupe by the Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands to perform at the Hurge in celebration of the Nigerian 40th independence anniversary.
22. In 2001, Nike went with her cultural group to Antwerp, Belgium to perform at the Wereld Cultural Center in Antwerp.
23. In 2001, Nike held an exhibition at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. USA.
24. In 2002, Nike was again invited to Hollywood for an art exhibition during Pan African Film and Art Festival (PAFF).
25. IN 2002, Nike was in Denison University, Granville Ohio. USA for an art workshop and lecture.
26. In 2002, Nike was in Bowling Green State University, Toledo Ohio, USA to hold art workshops and lectures.
27. In June 2002 Nike was invited as a special guest artist in resident during the commonwealth festival of art in Manchester, UK.
28. In July 2002, Nike had exhibitions of her works in Ausgburg, Germany during the La Piassa art festival.
29. In August 2002, Nike was in Calgary, Canada for exhibitions during the “Afrikadey” annual festival.
30. In November 2002, Nike was at the Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA as artist in resident, holding exhibitions, art workshops and lectures at the department of humanity of the University.
31. In December 2002, Nike attends the annual meeting of the African Studies Association of USA and Canada which holds in Washington DC. As a long time member of this association, her art works were also on view during the conference.
32. In February 2003, Nike was a special guest artist in resident at the Pan African Film and Art Festival in Los Angeles USA where she awarded certificate of honor by the County of Los Angeles, California, USA.
33. In September 2003, Nike was invited by Belgium government with her cultural troupe to perform amongst other cultural troupes from other 40 African countries at Antwerp cultural centre.
34. In February 2004, Nike was artist in resident at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
35. In July 2004, Nike artist in resident at the International Folk Art Festival at Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The festival was sponsored by the Museum of New Mexico Art Foundation.
36. In October 2004, Nike was appointed a member of the UNESCO Committee of the Nigerian Intangible Cultural Heritage Project.
37. In May 2005, Nike was a guest artist in resident at the African Art Festival in Wurzburg, Germany.
38. In June 2005, Nike was in Graz, Austria with her cultural troupe to perform and show case Nigerian art at Maria Moser Centre.
39. In May 2006, Nike was appointed a board member of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria Tourism Board at Abuja, Nigeria.
40. In January 2007, the government of United States of America selected Nike and sponsored her trip to Cape Town, South Africa to participate as a facilitator/panelist at the world conference of “Vital Voices Pan-African Leadership Summit & Initiative for Women and Girls”. At that conference, Nike presented a paper “Art, Activism and Women Empowerment” in Nigeria which caught the hearts of her audience at the conference. This paper was posted at her web site for six months from January to July 2007.
41. In March 2007, Nike was invited by the University of South Florida, Tampa to conduct workshops and lectures at the department of women studies and art history, on batik and traditional African textile (Adire).
42. In April 2007, Nike was invited by Harvard University, Cambridge to conduct workshops and lectures on batik and technique of adire textile processing and African dyeing techniques.
43. In 2008, Nike was invited by University of Alberta, Edmonton Canada to conduct workshops and lectures on African batik and the technique of Adire textile processing and African dyeing methods.
44. In August 2009, Nike was once again invited by the promoters of “Afrikadey” annual festival of Calgary, Canada to exhibit her works and conduct workshops on Adire processing during the six days festival.
NOTE
Please, read an autobiography of Nike authored by MS. Kim Marie Vaz, “THE WOMAN WITH THE ARTISTIC BRUSH” widely recommended for university students studying African arts and cultures in the USA.
Many academic papers and research papers have been published on Nike’s works by various world scholars. Just to mention only a few,
- “CELEBRATING ADIRE AND THE BATIK ART OF NIKE OKUNDAYE” Ijele: Art Journal ISSN 1525 447X. ;
- “CONTEMPORARY TEXTURES multidimensionality in Nigerian art” edited by Nkiru Nzegwu (pp187-230);
- “THE NEW AFRICA dispatches from a changing continent” (pp331-339) by Robert & Betty Press and published in 1999 by the University Press of Florida, USA. ISBN 0-8130-1704-1;
- “A HISTORY OF ART IN AFRICA” (pp166-167, 269-272) by M. B. Visona, R. Poynor, H. M. Cole and published in 2000 by Colemann & King Limited of London, ISBN 0-I-8I09-3448-5;
- “BEYOND INDIGO” produced by Nike & Reuben Okundaye and edited by Ritka Carr. Published in 2001 by Simon Printers, Lagos, ISBN 978-052-405-3
- “IMAGES AND FORM….southern Africa and Nigeria” (pp17) by John Picton and published in 1997 by the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Russell Square, London. ISBN 0 7286 0286
- More information can also be obtained from Nike’s web site: www.nikeart.com to drive home her expertise in art and African culture.
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