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Lagos—Marking half a century of artistic exchange between the United States and Nigeria, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has honored three legendary Nigerian artists—Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, and Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya—with the prestigious U.S. Exchange Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award.
The recognition celebrates their participation in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) over 50 years ago and their outstanding contributions to art and mentorship. The award ceremony brought together an esteemed audience, including diplomats, political and business leaders, art curators and collectors, academics, and alumni of various U.S. government exchange programs.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills presented each artist with a commemorative certificate, lauding their dedication to artistic excellence, their mentorship of emerging talents, and their efforts to strengthen cultural ties between Nigeria and the United States.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mills reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and empowering professionals across Nigeria’s creative industries. He emphasized the role of art in bridging communities, stating, “Art has the power to connect people and communities across the world. This is why we supported these programs 50 years ago, we support them now, and we will continue supporting them far into the future.”
Honorees and Their Legacies
Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, founder of the iconic Nike Art Gallery, has mentored countless students globally in adire and batik art forms. Her works, showcased in prestigious spaces like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC, reflect her commitment to preserving Nigeria’s artistic heritage. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Participating in the U.S. government exchange program opened new opportunities and perspectives that have shaped my career and personal growth.”
Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, a pioneer in bead painting, expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “Traveling to the U.S. in 1974 for the exchange program was transformative, allowing me to share my work on a global scale and mentor the next generation of artists,” he remarked. His art has been exhibited worldwide, and he has taught at esteemed institutions like the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and universities in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles.
Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, at 92 years old, remains a towering figure in Nigerian visual art. Renowned for his work across painting, printmaking, installation, and sculpture, he urged upcoming artists to stay committed to their craft. “This recognition inspires me to continue nurturing future talent,” he said. Known for illustrating Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease, his art is currently featured in the Smithsonian’s exhibition, The Mask and the Sword.
Celebrating U.S.-Nigeria Ties in the Arts
The event, organized by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria in collaboration with the Rele Arts Foundation, also highlighted the 50-year Sister Cities partnership between Lagos and Atlanta. With support from Delta Airlines and Lauren Tate Baeza, Curator of African Art at the High Museum of Art, the occasion underscored the enduring people-to-people connections that have shaped the vibrant artistic landscape between the two nations.
