Sixty-five balls for Nike Okundaye
Renowned textile artist and culture promoter, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye, will on Saturday, May 21 clock 65 years of age.
Ahead of the celebrations, her gallery and mentees have concluded plans to celebrate Mama Adire, as she’s fondly called.
Programme of the event from her gallery hints that the event will be a mini-festival to be hosted in her Lekki-based gallery.
Kick-starting the event, the gallery will on Sunday, May 15 host some group of art writers in a one day art talk. This will be followed by a one week art exhibition and a get-together for traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps, among other activities slated to take place.
The event promises to be an avenue whereby art collectors, captains of industry and friends of Nike, will mingle to discuss how to take arts to a higher level.
Reminiscing on her contribution in the field of art, she said: “I thank God for my life. Though, the challenge is there, which we face every day, but, an opportunity like this affords one to look back and thank God for what He has done for me.
“That is why this kind of event is dear to my heart. Apart from that, I am using it to appreciate my Maker for His mercies and kindness. I also want to use it to host my colleagues in the arts.’’
The Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi State born artist, is also seizing the opportunity to thank everyone, especially, the artists, who have contributed immensingly in making her life a success.
The Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi State born artist, is also seizing the opportunity to thank everyone, especially, the artists, who have contributed immensingly in making her life a success.
‘‘I am an ardent believer that the height that we reach in this world is not as a result of our making alone, but, God, who helps us to achieve such things in life.
“Now, at 65, I will tell you that God has been good to me. Whatever one finds in life is for a moment, no condition is permanent. Therefore, it is always good to cherish those who have been with you. We know that our destiny is not in our hands.
“This gives me a lot of strength to go on everyday, despite challenges. I want to use this event to thank God and celebrate with the art community. What I have achieved is also because I stayed focused to this goal and my love for the arts.
“I also want to advise our younger artists that things may not look good today, but, they should continue. Challenges drive us to our ultimate destiny.
” As a matter of fact, I started my sojourn into the arts when I was just six. Having lost my mother early in life, that challenge did not stop me and that is why I will always celebrate what God has done for me”.
Born on May 23, 1951, Nike is the chief executive of Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Osogbo, where she offers training, free of charge, on various forms of arts to interested people. She is also the founder of the Nike Art Galleries in Lagos and Abuja.
In 1996, as a way of empowering the womenfolk, she established a textile (Aso Oke) weaving centre in her home town. More than 200 women have, so far, benefitted from that initiative. Every year, she invites foreign dignitaries to her hometown in Ogidi to savour the beauty of the town.
She holds the traditional titles of Yeye Oba of Ogidi, YeyeTayese of Osogbo and Yeye Gbasaga of Ijumu. She is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists, (SNA) Society of Nigerian Women Artists, Osun Support Grove and had won one of the highest Italian national awards, which she was given in appreciation of her efforts in using arts to address and solve the problems of Nigerian commercial sex workers in Italy.
