PTV News Media: NCAC TRIBUTES AJIBOYE’S 40 YEARS OF ARTS EXHIBITIONS

By Perekeme Odon

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) rolled out its drums for a week-long solo art exhibition titled ‘Forty Years of Art Exhibitions’ in honour of Nigeria’s foremost celebrated cartoon/painting Legend of our time, Mr. Josy Ajiboye.

The exhibition which took place at the National Gallery of Crafts and Designs, National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos Zonal Office, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos state, came to a close on November 9, 2016, with lots of dignitaries, art lovers, collectors, and staff of various federal government agencies.

Mr. Omoniyi Victor, Head, NCAC Lagos Zonal Office
Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

The Head of NCAC, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr. Omoniyi Dotun Victor who ably represented the Director-General, NCAC, Mrs. Dayo Keshi, opened the exhibition on November 2, 2016. In her opening remark, the Director-General told the audience how delighted she was to present and celebrates a veteran and frontline cartoonist of repute before the public in his forty years of art exhibitions. According to her, “We are here to celebrate him and to ensure Nigerians know the potentials that abound in the creative industry. This is the 40th year anniversary of his exhibition in the industry, and he has impacted positively on the nation because his works speak a lot about culture. For example, in one of his works, a talking drum depicts our culture and the artist is talking about our culture that there is a need for unity in the country”.

Mr. Josy Ajiboye
Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

In her forward note, Mrs. Keshi said NCAC is proud and delighted to be part of this worthy cause. She enjoined Nigerians, especially the investing public and art collectors to join NCAC in celebrating a Cultural Icon like Jossy Ajiboye. Without shredding words, Mrs. Keshi also said “Without our culture, a nation cannot progress, and any nation that forgets her culture is bound to fail”. She advised everyone to take a look-in at the creative industry to see ways of restoring our economy and themselves because “There is a goldmine in our creative industry.

The Chairman of the occasion, Prince (Engr.) Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, a distinguished and renowned art collector; and founder of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) spoke about his reverence as regard the artist and also advocated that, “Josy Ajiboye as a cartoonist and a realistic painter that paints still life drawing will always have a place in the Nigerian art circle by playing a role in the immediate post-colonial life of Nigeria. In fact, artists should be honoured for their roles in documenting history”. He added.

Prince (Engr.) Yemisi Shyllon
Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

Also present at the opening ceremony and cutting of tape was Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire, the Ojora of Ijora who was amiably represented by Chief Joseph Omobolade, Baale of Marine Beach who said “The artworks were all representing the good sides of life, because they depict the happenings in our country and lifestyles of today”.

Other cartoonists and art scholars present were Mr. Aaron Nwankwo (Assistant Director, NCAC, Lagos Zonal Office), Dele Jegede, Victor Ekpuk, Kolade Oshinowo, Aremu Temitope Abayomi Babayemi, and staff of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos Zonal Office.

More than 60 artworks, many never shown in Nigeria before, were the centerpiece of the programme. The works exhibited ranged from various paintings, cartoons and drawings of the exhibitor and inhabited on different bubbles of our economical, political, environmental, and socio-cultural life styles and activities in our country.

Chief Joseph Omobolade
Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

Ajiboye, the surrealistic, realistic, and romantic artist is not an unknown name in the Nigerian art domain. He told whoever cared to listen that he has been drawing and painting for over 40 years because of the love he has for the art: “What has kept me going in the industry is my love and passion for the arts. I cannot do any other work even if I am paid so much money. I cannot stop doing arts, because it is my hobby”.

With a big artist like Ajiboye being presented to the public, the NCAC art gallery was near being renovated to the amazement of the visitors. Though, the illumination was not too bright for visitors to capture the clarity of the works being exhibited. Not much ventilation was felt, as the air conditioners were not in full capacity. But beyond that, the show was a success story to everyone present.

Nevertheless, Mr. Aaron Nwankwo, Assistant Director of NCAC, Lagos Zonal Office went on to say "An art exhibition is traditionally the space in which art objects (in the most general sense) meet an audience. Hence, this is not the first time NCAC is partnering with the artist, for an exhibition". On October 1-14, 2008, Josy Ajiboye and his dynasty of creative artists in Nigeria had a group art exhibition at the Red Brick, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos titled ‘The Art Family’ with sponsorship from Fobat Group International. Other members of the family that joined the Ajiboye for the group exhibition where his wife, Adunni, and four children; Segun, Rotimi, Yemisi, and Aderonke. The Art Family had dignitaries within and outside the art circle present like His Majesty, Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu-Menu Toyi I, Late Ambassador Segun Olusola, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Kolade Oshinowo, Simi Ogunsanya, Dr. Kunle Filani and members of the diplomatic circle to add colour and glitz to the occasion. This offered the public to see an artist whose dexterity as a painter is as strong as his cartoonist image.

Mr. Aaron Nwankwo- Assistant Director, NCAC
Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

Ajiboye became a household name with the Daily Times newspaper as a popular signature on the weekly cartoon corner of Sunday Times known as ‘Josy Ajiboye on Sunday’. An artist whose image of a cartoonist is looming over that of being a painter disclosed that there is a misconception here because "Painting is my first love”. According to Mufu Onifade, “Josy Ajiboye had dedicated himself to duty as a cartoonist in the Daily Times publications, ensuring and maintaining a high level of consistency. As a matter of fact, he competed favorably, in terms of wide popularity and acceptance with the celebrities of that period- King Sunny Ade, Ade Afoloyan(Ade Love), Moses Olaiya Adejumo(Baba Sala), and more. Unlike other artists of the time whose popularity did not extend beyond the art circle”.

From his childhood love for painting came the training of a donor programme, Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), and further training in Commercial Art at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. Ajiboye’s general attitude to life reflects on all of his paintings. It’s all about reality; and for those who think it is fashionable to be labeled abstract artists, Ajiboye argued that art goes beyond abstraction. "If all it takes to be an artist is to just put something onto the canvas; content and context, which only the artist understands, then people won't have the need to study art at higher education level; anybody can become an artist. Nothing is as good as life drawing. In art, every creature has anatomy, not just the human figure; birds, trees, and every other thing under the sun that grows and dies. In art, you cannot improvise any of these anatomies, hence the need to be versatile in life drawing "


(l-r) Mr.Ezenobie, Mr. Olorunmonu, Aremu Babayemi & Mr. Iyoha Photo Credit: C.S.P Dept. (NCAC, Lagos Zone)

Some of the works displayed involved "Girl at Bath, Yoruba Talking Drummer, Fulani Boy, Feeding Ram, Efik Girl, Gems of the Nation, Sunset at Badagry", and many more.

Ajiboye had his first exhibition at the then Gong Gallery, Lagos in 1977 with twenty-eight (28) paintings displayed and followed it up in 1979 with another one sponsored by the French Cultural Centre, but held at the French Embassy, among other shows. He is married to Adunni has four children: Segun, Rotimi, Yemisi Osundina (married to an artist, Kunle Osundina) and Aderonke. They all received their early tutelage in art under Ajiboye.