Njideka Akunyili-Crosby gets N228m MacArthur fellowship

Visual artist and daughter of the late Dora Akunyili, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, 34, is one of the 24 winners of the 2017 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation genius fellowship.

The recipients were selected based on their show of “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.”

They will each will receive a N228, 125, 000 ($625,000) award from the foundation “as an investment in their potential,” paid out over five years with no strings attached.

This year’s list comprises scientists, activists, historians, architects, writers and musicians who emerged successful following strict selection criteria by an independent selection committee, having been nominated by external parties.

Commending the fellows, the managing director, MacArthur fellows programme, Cecilia Conrad, in a statement said, “These new MacArthur fellows bring their exceptional creativity to diverse people, places, and social challenges. Their work gives us reason for optimism and inspires us all.”

She added that, “We hope that when people read about the fellows, it makes them think about how they might be more creative in their own lives. It does something for the human spirit.”

Akunyili-Crosby, through her works says, she is “visualising the complexities of globalization and transnational identity in works that layer paint, photographic imagery, prints, and collage elements” describes herself as a cosmopolitan Nigerian who crosses the divide between cultures and is developing an innovative way to represent culture and history from multiple viewpoints.

Other fellows include Cristina Jiménez Moreta, 33, (youngest recipient) founder and executive director of United We Dream, a national network of advocates for immigrant youths and Dawoud Bey, 63, (oldest recipient) a Chicagobased photographer and educator whose portraits of communities include ‘Harlem Redux’ and ‘The Birmingham Project.