‘My first art piece sold for one shilling’
Nigeria’s adire queen, Nike Davies-Okundaye is a global figure when it comes to the arts. She speaks about how it all began, being influenced by the late Susan Wenger and what artists must do to make a mark and succeed in the industry.
Alot of people know you in Lagos but you are in Abuja as well. How long have you been in Abuja and what do you do here?
I opened my Nike Art Gallery which I call Nike Art Foundation now in 2000. The American ambassador came to Oshogbo and said what you are doing here they also need in Abuja. You should open it in Abuja. I said “Abuja?” He said “yes. Your people need you there and that is the main reason I came to Abuja. Our gallery and workshop are free of charge to train widows, less privileged and unemployed.
Marketing themselves is the problem a lot of craftsmen seem to have in Nigeria. There are events organised on different levels encouraging them to bring their works but not much is one in terms of attracting patronage to these works.
Well, I would say that is one thing that Moses Ayom has just done for us by creating a space like the Heritage Africa Village Square. This will be a rallying place for all of us in the creative industry. We have a lot of art market in Lagos and we are trying to educate people in Abuja about our services. People take artists to be rich people not knowing that nothing is possible without hard working and dedication. All you need to do is to follow your heart and you will surely succeed.
You should always have confidence in yourself, don’t be afraid to wear and market your work. After training people, I ask them to also train others. Then after training them we now ask you to come and have exhibition in order for you to have customers. But whenever you are going to your customer, you have to wear what you make to create something new and beautiful. Also be humble to your customers.
What would you that creatives are doing wrong that is hampering their moving forward?
Well, art thing that is the just the last government will even attend to. In those days, government does not do anything. But with the support of people like Moses who has invested for us we are able to have a place to express ourselves. Also, we need to work hard for people to believe in our work and our product. Artists are like ambassadors to the country, art is like the source, it is something that brings good name to Nigeria. But we need the promoter and that is why we have the media who have been writing about art with effort and energy. That is the passion. When somebody has passion, they will get there.
You said earlier that work revitalises you. How does that happen?
Well you know actually artists, don’t retire. We can look tired but we don’t retire. So when you work, you work with spirit and that spirit is your other side, that is driving you. Once you start the work, you are in another world. It is when you are finish that people now see what you are seeing when you are doing your work.
When you work hard, you have