Tate Modern’s exhibition "Nigerian Modernism" showcases over 300 works by 59 Nigerian modernist artists, curated by Osei Bonsu and Bilal Akkouche. The show follows the 2018 record sale of Ben Enwonwu’s portrait "Tutu" for £1.2 million at Bonhams, which highlighted the neglect of modern African artists in global art history. The exhibition includes pioneering figures like Aina Onabolu, the first African student at an English art school, and Uche Okeke of the Zaria Art Society, whose work blended Islamic aesthetics, uli mural traditions, and European techniques.
The exhibition matters because it directly addresses the historical oversight of Nigerian modernism, challenging Eurocentric narratives that have long marginalized African art. By presenting a comprehensive survey of 20th-century Nigerian art, the show repositions these artists within the broader story of modernism, emphasizing their engagement with anticolonial perspectives, nation-building, and cultural synthesis. It serves as a critical art-historical redress, as called for by writer Ben Okri, and underscores the importance of recognizing diverse artistic traditions beyond Western frameworks.