I Never Knew I Would Get to 70 Years… My Mother Died Before Clocking 30 Years
Nike Davies-Okudaye is an indigene of Ogidi, Kogi State, who spent her early years in Oshogbo, Osun State. She is internationally known for her arts, love for Batik, and Adire-making. DaviesOkudaye is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, who also empowers women by teaching them how to make Adire fabrics. Mama Nike is the Managing Director/CEO of the Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Oshogbo where training is offered free of charge to all Nigerians. She is also the CEO of Nike Art Gallery Lekki, Lagos. Mama Nike speaks with Azuka Ogujiuba about turning 70, the women exhibition that took place at her gallery on international women’s day, and her relationship with the Oba of Elegushi Kingdom where her gallery is located How do you feel turning 70 years?
Ifeel very excited because I never knew I would get to 70, my mother died before she was 30. For me reaching 70 is a great achievement in my life. I thank all the organisers who make it possible for me to celebrate my birthday, I am so happy to reach 70 years.
Is there something you wish you had done before now?
Yes. Looking back, what I think I should have done that I haven’t done is to build a school. I have a centre but I have to build it like a school where people will be getting certificates. It will be like academia, which I don’t have, that is what I am still looking to do.
Do you have any regret in life so far?
So far, I thank God, I don’t have any regret but I only think when I see people speaking good English, I always wish I had that education, which I don’t have but I will make sure my children have good education.
Why do you love Adire fabrics so much? It is because it is the original textile from our country and also it is the only textile that
talks, which can be used to communicate with people in those days. I love Adire because it is the heritage pattern, cultural textile and also it is something from our youth that everybody has.
We know you had a special exhibition for young women artists this year in your gallery to celebrate Women’s international day, tell us about it?
Well, I want to tell you this year is Choose to Challenge ... I was so happy about the title of the IWD programme here. When you look at the challenge people have, I was happy to see the younger people who are going through the same thing our mothers have passed through because young women are now raising their babies. They don’t think because they raise babies, they will sit back and be a housewife. They are working, painting and doing all sorts of work. And an artist also comes to show their voice “My work is my voice.” That is why they had the exhibition this year.
Who hosted the Exhibition?
Female Artist Association of Nigeria (FEAN). They have 3000-4000 members. Their president is Chinze and the South-west region is headed by Chinyere.
What advice do you have for a woman who is being maltreated by her husband because of her rising profile?
I’ll say such a woman should have patience and focus on what makes her happy. Once you have patience, there is nothing you can’t overcome. Most of all, education has helped many of our women. Some of them have doctorate degrees, while their husbands have bachelor ’s degrees and they still give the respect they deserve but won’t give up on their careers. You should have patience and focus on what makes you happy. If you are a lawyer and art is your line, do the lawyer for the money and art for the passion. And in the case of domestic violence, the woman has a voice, her work is her voice. You can afford to put something on the table, leave! We don’t want to see them die ... they are our daughters.
Recently the president ofTanzania died and the vice was a woman, do you see that happening in Nigeria soon?
Well, soon. Soon, it is going to happen. When you talk about 54 countries, Nigeria is the giant ... So why not us?
Let us go back to art which we know you for. For so many years, this has been your life. If you didn’t have this opportunity, what else would you have done?
Maybe I could have been a Nun. Because of my life before art, I am a fifth-generation artist. I started when I was six years old with my great-grandmother. If I were not an artist, I would have become a Nun. If I got a good education, I would have been a Rev. Sister because I always like to teach or maybe a teacher. The first choice after art is a Nun because I like to work with the community and give a part of my talent.
This gallery has been on for how many years?
I moved to this gallery in 2008 and I got my first gallery in 1967, in Osogbo ... My bedroom used to be my first gallery where I displayed my artwork... Life is art.