Words: Oyiza Adaba 

Photos: Iwalewahaus/ Asele Institute 

Bayreuth, Germany

The ongoing exhibition at Iwalewahaus in Bayreuth Germany in honour of the late seminal artist, master illustrator and scholar Uche Okeke, encapsulates his entire artistic journey that helped redefine Nigeria's art history and  direction. 

From his pencil works to his Uli-inspired themes, Okeke played freely with forms, lines etc; he advocated through The Zaria Art Society for an artistic meeting point called Natural Synthesis - a blend of the old and new, modern and ancient, traditional and contemporary. 

Okeke is a product of a rich African heritage and extensive global training. An Igbo man from Nimo in Anambra State eastern Nigeria who grew up in the northern region of Kafanchan, he learned the traditional body-painting art of 'Uli' from his mother, and later imbibed characters from childhood folktales in his globally celebrated art. His training in the art of stained glass and mosaic in the then West Germany further established a lifetime network of friends and contemporaries.

Okeke passed in 2016, leaving his treasure trove in the hands of The Asele Institute in Nimo, Nigeria and The Professor Uche Okeke Legacy Limited. Managed by his family, both estates have collaborated with Iwalewahaus to make this exhibition possible. Other featured artists include his devoted wife Ego Uche-Okeke, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Okechukwu Odita, Oseloka Osadebe, Uzochukwu Ndubisi, Emmanuel Tetteh, C.O. Ibe, Kuniyasu, J.O. Akujobi, Anozie, F.N. Ekeada, Martin O.C. Onwuzuruoha, Ibrahim El Salahi, Mathias Kauage. Digital intervention by Jeremiah Ikongio in conversation with Uche Okeke’s text-based and sculptural artworks.

'We will now go to Kpaaza’

This was one of Okeke’s regular expressions, inspired by a line ‘I will not go to Kpaaza’ in the poem he titled 'Early Enochs’. 'Kpaaza' to him was a creative journey, a thought process, facing the task ahead. 

Let's go! 

Iwalewahaus,Bayreuth Germany

April 29 – October 15 2022

Follow the exhibition online here: 

https://the-uche-okeke-exhibition.com/?page_id=4

Media/Interview Request:

Frl.Fink@uni-bayreuth.de

Oyiza Adaba is a Nigerian journalist and producer @africarelated