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| Nike |
ADA DIKE met Chief
Mrs. Nike Davies Okundaye’s who has devoted her life to provide an opportunity for aspiring artists,
craftsmen, women to explore their talents.
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When Chief Mrs. Nike
Davies Okundaye set out to learn how to dye cloths and weave fabrics, she
didn’t know what it would result to in future.
Born on May 23, 1951, she
lost her mother at the age of six and went to live with her grandmother who
died the following year so she went to stay with her great grandmother who was
the head of fabric weaving association in their village in Ogidi Ijumu in Kogi
State. From there, she learnt how to weave and dye fabrics (Adire).
She recalls
how she became the originator of Batik in Africa. “One day, there was no
electricity at night, so I lit a candle I got from our church while preparing a
fabric I wanted to dye. A melted wax dropped on my fabric, so that part came
out brighter and beautiful. That was how I started using wax to do batik. From
there, I started drawing designs on the fabric which I used to do on the floor
using a broom. I also used a needle and crochet thread to knit table cloths
which reverend sisters bought at six kobo each and put in the altar of a
Catholic Church in my village,” she said.
Life was
indeed tough for her, but the woman with cool and calm demeanour knows how to
turn every situation in her favour. “I was doing a labourer job of using planks
to carry sands and we licked the sandy water that was dripping from the sand
and used it as a chocolate. I later got a job as a baby sitter for an Indian
family because I passed the test of cleaning their house which I learnt from
home using cow dung to scrub our mud house to avert dust. I was paid one pound
per month from which I fed, bought dresses and paid my sibling’s school fees.
“The Indians
made a blouse for me to wear and I had to bathe three times in a day so that I
won’t stain their baby. I enjoyed that job because I became clean and healthy. From
Kogi, the Indian family I was living with took me on a tour and took me to
Osogbo, Osun State, though one of my mother’s sisters was living there as tie
and dye (Adire) maker who I also learnt a bit of Adire from when I lived with
her for some time.
“Out of
curiousity, one day, I went to Osun Groove to look at the river and fell in
love with the work of Mama Susanne Wenger of blessed memory. I told myself,
“This is a place I belong. If a white woman could do this, why shouldn’t we?” I
approached her and told her that I want to learn from her but she told me that
art is not what one can use the other person’s hand to draw. She welcomed me
and took me through the rudiment of practical art. From there, I expanded and
set up my workshops and gallery,” she explained.
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| Nike with some women |
Though she did not have
formal education, she has two doctorate degrees from schools in the United
States of America –one for planting a tree in her compound in 1995 which has
grown and it is giving shades around her house. The second is on performance
art. “I am also a singer and dancer too.”
Her vision for opening art
centres in Osogbo, with branches in Lagos, Abuja and Ogidi Ijumu is to promote
artists, empower rural women and provide training opportunities for those
interested in learning the practical aspect of art. “Artists are happy to see
their works displayed in my gallery. Each artist works with a spirit that
drives him. We don’t see what they are seeing till they are through with their
works.”
She adds: I
also encourage children to discover their talents. School children from
different schools do visit my gallery every Monday and I normally give them
pencils and papers to draw designs of their choice. Sometimes, from 100
students we may get 30 students who can draw well. So we focus on the art inclined ones
from the age of nine and give them materials to work with till they become
experts.”
Her Lagos art gallery has
become a tourists’ centre. “We do inventory every year. At present we have more
than 7000 artworks in my gallery in Lagos but not all of them are for sale. A
lot of them are displayed for Nigerians and tourists to see the creativity in
Nigeria just like in museums abroad. People pay money to enter museums abroad
but we do not collect money in my gallery because it is a foundation and it is
a dream that came to fruition,” she revealed.
Their prices
are cheap. “With N500, you can buy something from us. Buyers determine the
price of an artwork.”
Okundaye is
keen to point out that she does not make money in Nigeria. “I actually make
money outside Nigeria. I do workshop in many countries. This year, I have been
to Austria, France and Spain, that is the only way I succeed with my work, but
I derive joy and satisfaction of doing it in Nigeria. I want to leave the
gallery as a legacy after my death. I have tried my best to involve government
but it seems that art is the last thing that they would want to pay attention
to because it does not bring money immediately. They don’t know that it is a
long term investment.
“In South
Africa, artists have a strong association. They are financed and supported by
their government. I really want government to come in and help us so that
tourists will be attracted to come here and see our rich heritage. I want the
Federal Government to help us in the maintenance of the gallery. Tourists that
visit Nigeria may not want to see a shopping complex or five star hotel but
creativity. I want the Federal Government to put money in the ministry of Art
and Culture so that we can have street art and heritage sites like Adire site
in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Indigo site in Osogbo, Osun State and bigger dye pits
in Kano,” she appealed.
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| Nike |
When asked
if she faces challenges due to the enormous work she does, she quips: “I pay
heavy tax for my gallery despite the fact that it is a foundation to help
artists and art lovers. I work here with my husband, daughter and cousin
because I don’t have enough resources to pay other staff. I hired a security
man, driver and a cleaning firm but we do all other jobs by ourselves to
minimise cost.
“Travelling
every weekend to Osun State to bring in new thing and tutor people on
industrial training is also challenging. I provided accommodation for them and
ensure that whoever comes to learn have a good stay. We also need sponsors to help
us to print books so that we will distribute them to children in schools. It
costs me a lot of money to do that.
“Funding has
been my major challenge so I hereby appeal to individuals, private and public
organisations to come to my aid. I know that government cannot do everything
for us but I want them to assist us in any way they can.”
When she was
asked to predict what art as a profession in Nigeria would be like in the next
10 years, she cuts in: “With the help of the Ministry for Arts and Culture,
Nigeria will be known as African art depot in the next 10 years. We have about
30,000 registered artists in Nigeria which is quite intimidating compared with
other countries. I am sure that the unregistered artists are more in number
than the registered ones.”
Despite the
challenges she is facing, what has proved interesting to her is people’s
appreciation and encouragement which drive her on. “Special people and
organisation that have been very supportive to my work include Omooba Yemisi
Shyllon, Mrs. Ajoke Murtala, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and so on. I derived
my inspiration through the happiness people exhibit when they have an encounter
with me or appreciate what I am doing. This gallery enables Nigerians to learn
and develop their cultural heritage.”
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| Nike with some women |
Concerning her
future plans, she wants to turn the training centre at Osogbo to a school. “I
want more women to join in this job because it is interesting and you can stay
in your parlour or backyard to do it. I need an art school in Osogbo and Lagos
but the fund to set up these schools is not available.
“I feel disappointed when I am asked to pay
the same tax with companies that are making millions of Naira per month. They
are some weeks we don’t even make up to N50. 00 here despite high cost in
maintain our generator and other things.”
Nike cites the likes of Mama
Susanne Wenger and her late ex-husband, Prince Twins Seven Seven, born Prince
Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale-Toyeje Oyelale Osuntoki among her influences. She was
mentored by her great grandmother who pioneered her training. “In her time, art
was done as a hobby and for pleasure and that is what I take it to be.”
Despite her
disappointment, her greatest achievement is the present conditions of many
women and artists who have passed through her centres from the 1970s till date.
“Some of them have trained their children to university levels, live in their
personal houses and are now rich. I am happy to see them becoming successful
and rich. It can be likened to turning an ash to treasure.
“I am glad that I changed
the dressing pattern of many artists in Osogbo who where hitherto dressing like
rastafarians, leaving their beards
bushy and rough.”
She points
out that: “Artwork is a therapy. If you see a work in which a mother is
carrying her baby, it means love and warmness. If you look at an artwork, you
would forget your problem. I am surprised that people have a belief that there
is a spirit in an artwork, especially, the sculptures. Someone can give a dog a
bad name in order to kill it.”
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| Nike |
Nike is happily
married to a retired commissioner of police, Mr. Okundaye, who she met in Osun
State and they are blessed with a child but she has children from her previous
marriages. She described her husband as a very supportive and caring man.
The cool and
calm woman who is on a mission to reposition Nigeria and indeed Africa’s rich
culture in people’s minds advises young artists in Nigeria: “Be honest in
anything you do. Whatever you are doing, do it well. Let your work advertise
your name. Market yourself in a good way. When you make money, save for the
rainy day. Divide it into three parts-for your needs, family, then save the
third part for your future. Above all, pass the knowledge to your children.
Spanish painter and sculptor, Pablo Picasso was not a millionaire before he
died but his works are now in many countries.”
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