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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Culture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king
Thousands gathered on Sunday in an ancient town in south-west Nigeria for a spectacular display of culture, colour and tradition. The Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, brought together locals and visitors to pay homage to the Awujale - the traditional ruler of the Ijebu people. This union of drummers, musicians and dancers coupled with a fashion parade told a tale of people deeply connected to their roots. Ojude Oba - a Yoruba phrase meaning "the kings forecourt" - began over two centuries ago. Earmarked for the third day after Eid, this was originally a modest gathering of the Muslim faithful, thanking the king for allowing them to practise their religion freely. But it has grown to symbolise pride, unity and identity among all the Ijebu people regardless of religion. The women were elegantly turned-out in colourful traditional dresses, known here as iro and buba, along with the gele, or head wrap. Their outfits were made from lace or aso-oke, a locally sourced fabric woven by the Yoruba people. The sunglasses and hand fans meant to provide respite for the blistering sun were must-have accessories, complementing the looks. Dressed in traditional Yoruba agbada, the men agree months ahead on what outfits, colour and accessories to use for the festival. Each year, they tweak the style and colour and display. Accessories include matching caps, beads and shoes. Regardless of social status, the people are classified into age groups known as regbe-regbe, with hundreds belonging to each one. They are aimed at fostering unity among the locals. The horses were adorned in colourful ornaments of gold and silver. Their riders displayed their prowess and the strength of their horses circling the arena to thunderous applause from spectators. Shots from locally made guns sent white smoke into the air, signalling the arrival of each of the traditional warrior family, known as Balogun or Eleshin. They protected the Ijebu kingdom from external aggression at one time. The flamboyant parade of culture provides an economic boost to the area as dress makers, weavers, shoe makers, jewellers and others are contracted to make the desired outfits and matching accessories. Additional reporting by Ayo Bello and Kyla Herrmannsen Nigeria's Egungun festival: Colour, culture and community Nigeria's spectacular horse parade closing Ramadan Nigerians take to the streets for Calabar Carnival Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat?
In Nigerian politics, there has long been an informal understanding: presidential appointments should carefully balance the country's many ethnic and religious differences. Today, there are growing concerns that this is being ignored. While the constitution requires regional representation in cabinet positions, the broader distribution of other prominent roles has traditionally followed a convention aimed at fostering national cohesion. Nigeria's fractious divisions have in the past torn the country – Africa's most populous – apart. Concerns about fairness in presidential appointments are not new, but a chorus of criticism is growing over President Bola Tinubu's picks, with some accusing the head of state – who has been in power for two years – of favouring people from his own Yoruba ethnic group. The presidency vehemently denies the accusation. There have long been fears that members of one ethnic group would come to dominate key positions – and this means that presidential appointments are closely scrutinised whenever they are announced. There are over 250 ethnic groups in the country with Hausa-Fulanis, Igbo and Yoruba – hailing from the north, south-east and south-west respectively - being the three largest. Critics say that Tinubu, a southern Muslim, showed signs of ignoring precedent from the onset when he picked another Muslim (although from the north) to be his running mate for the last election. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the major parties had always put forward a mixed Muslim-Christian ticket, as the country is roughly evenly divided between followers of the two religions. Tinubu's appointments since becoming president in May 2023 are facing growing cricisim. Although there are dozens of roles for a head of state to fill, there are eight jobs that "are the most crucial for every administration", according to political analyst and barrister Lawal Lawal. These are the heads of the: central bank state-owned oil company, NNPC police army customs service intelligence agency anti-corruption agency and revenue service. There is no constitutional ranking of positions, but collectively these roles control the key financial and security apparatus of the country. Every president inherits his predecessor's appointees, but has the prerogative to replace them. As of April, all eight positions under Tinubu are now filled by Yorubas. The recent appointment of former Shell boss Bayo Ojulari to head the state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), in place of a northerner turbocharged the debate about the apparent monopoly of one group in top positions. Looking at who filled the same posts under Tinubu's two immediate predecessors, there was no such dominance of one ethnic group at the same stage of their presidencies. Goodluck Jonathan – who served from 2010 to 2015 – had a relatively balanced team of two ethnic Fulanis, two Hausas, one Atyap, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Calabar. When it came to Muhammadu Buhari – in power from 2015 to 2023 – the situation was less clear. In the top eight he had three Hausas, two Kanuris, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Nupe. But in the minds of many Nigerians, Hausas, Kanuris and Nupes are all seen as northerners – and therefore there was a perception that Buhari, who is from the north, showed favouritism. Some argue that Tinubu's appointments have merely continued the trend, but the 100%-Yoruba make-up of the eight key positions is unprecedented. "For a democratically elected president, I cannot remember at any point in Nigerian history where you have this high concentration of a particular ethnic group holding most of the sensitive positions," history professor Tijjani Naniya told the BBC. This is not just about what has happened in the past but it could have an impact on the unity and even the future of the country, the professor said. "For me, the fear is what if the next president continues on this path and picks most of the sensitive positions from his ethnic group, it diminishes the feeling of belonging among the rest and also reduces belief in democracy," he said. In the last two years, many northerners, mostly Hausa-Fluanis, have looked at the apparent direction of travel with alarm. The current men (there are no women) in charge of the NNPC, the police, customs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) all replaced northerners. The removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, a Hausa, as boss of the EFCC in 2023 just two years after he was appointed was especially controversial. He was arrested, accused of abuse of office and detained for over 100 days before the charges were dropped. He was replaced by Ola Olukoyode, an ethnic Yoruba. Some from the north felt Mr Bawa was unfairly treated and pushed aside to make way for Mr Olukoyode. "The president needs to know that the Yoruba people are just a part of the country, and all appointments should be spread across all ethnic groups and regions," social affairs analyst Isah Habibu told the BBC. Without addressing specific cases, a Tinubu spokesperson has said the president is being fair and balanced, by taking the wider view of all appointments. Media aide Sunday Dare did try to go into detail, saying overall, 71 northerners and 63 southerners had been appointed by Tinubu. But his 9 April post on X was later deleted, after people pointed out errors in his claim. He promised an updated list, but more than six month slater, it has yet to appear. Tinubu faces critics even from within his own party. Senator Ali Ndume is from the north and – like Tinubu – belongs to the All Progressives Congress. In one television interview he said he had gone on air to talk about the president's appointment "wrongdoings". Ndume said he was shocked, describing them as "non-inclusive and not reflecting the president's 'Renewed Hope' agenda, which promised to carry every section of the country along". Another presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, disputed the idea that some positions were more significant than others. "All I know is that the constitutional provisions [regarding appointments] have been taken care of by the president - there's nowhere in the constitution [where it is] mentioned top five, top 10 and the rest," he told the BBC. "The way we see it is that any position or appointment that one is privileged to serve in is very critical and important. "The national security adviser is from the north-east, the chief of defence staff is from the north-west and the secretary to the federal government is from north-central." The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which coordinates policy on behalf of the presidency, released a statement on 12 April saying Tinubu was being fair. "This administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies," it said. Political analyst Mr Lawal said the president should appoint the best person for the job, irrespective of their ethnic origin – and agues that this is what Tinubu is doing. "It's high time Nigeria looks beyond ethnicity," he said. There could be a time when Nigerians no longer obsess over the ethnic origins of those in the upper echelons of government, but historian Prof Naniya says this is still some way off. He believes it can only happen when the country gets at least four presidents in succession who give every section a sense of belonging in terms of projects and appointments. "I think it can be done but needs the right leaders." Nigeria's spectacular horse parade closing Ramadan 'I scarred my six children by using skin-lightening creams' 'How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends' Are Nigerians abroad widening the class divide back home? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat?
In Nigerian politics, there has long been an informal understanding: presidential appointments should carefully balance the country's many ethnic and religious differences. Today, there are growing concerns that this is being ignored. While the constitution requires regional representation in cabinet positions, the broader distribution of other prominent roles has traditionally followed a convention aimed at fostering national cohesion. Nigeria's fractious divisions have in the past torn the country – Africa's most populous – apart. Concerns about fairness in presidential appointments are not new, but a chorus of criticism is growing over President Bola Tinubu's picks, with some accusing the head of state – who has been in power for two years – of favouring people from his own Yoruba ethnic group. The presidency vehemently denies the accusation. There have long been fears that members of one ethnic group would come to dominate key positions – and this means that presidential appointments are closely scrutinised whenever they are announced. There are over 250 ethnic groups in the country with Hausa-Fulanis, Igbo and Yoruba – hailing from the north, south-east and south-west respectively - being the three largest. Critics say that Tinubu, a southern Muslim, showed signs of ignoring precedent from the onset when he picked another Muslim (although from the north) to be his running mate for the last election. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the major parties had always put forward a mixed Muslim-Christian ticket, as the country is roughly evenly divided between followers of the two religions. Tinubu's appointments since becoming president in May 2023 are facing growing cricisim. Although there are dozens of roles for a head of state to fill, there are eight jobs that "are the most crucial for every administration", according to political analyst and barrister Lawal Lawal. These are the heads of the: central bank state-owned oil company, NNPC police army customs service intelligence agency anti-corruption agency and revenue service. There is no constitutional ranking of positions, but collectively these roles control the key financial and security apparatus of the country. Every president inherits his predecessor's appointees, but has the prerogative to replace them. As of April, all eight positions under Tinubu are now filled by Yorubas. The recent appointment of former Shell boss Bayo Ojulari to head the state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), in place of a northerner turbocharged the debate about the apparent monopoly of one group in top positions. Looking at who filled the same posts under Tinubu's two immediate predecessors, there was no such dominance of one ethnic group at the same stage of their presidencies. Goodluck Jonathan – who served from 2010 to 2015 – had a relatively balanced team of two ethnic Fulanis, two Hausas, one Atyap, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Calabar. When it came to Muhammadu Buhari – in power from 2015 to 2023 – the situation was less clear. In the top eight he had three Hausas, two Kanuris, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Nupe. But in the minds of many Nigerians, Hausas, Kanuris and Nupes are all seen as northerners – and therefore there was a perception that Buhari, who is from the north, showed favouritism. Some argue that Tinubu's appointments have merely continued the trend, but the 100%-Yoruba make-up of the eight key positions is unprecedented. "For a democratically elected president, I cannot remember at any point in Nigerian history where you have this high concentration of a particular ethnic group holding most of the sensitive positions," history professor Tijjani Naniya told the BBC. This is not just about what has happened in the past but it could have an impact on the unity and even the future of the country, the professor said. "For me, the fear is what if the next president continues on this path and picks most of the sensitive positions from his ethnic group, it diminishes the feeling of belonging among the rest and also reduces belief in democracy," he said. In the last two years, many northerners, mostly Hausa-Fluanis, have looked at the apparent direction of travel with alarm. The current men (there are no women) in charge of the NNPC, the police, customs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) all replaced northerners. The removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, a Hausa, as boss of the EFCC in 2023 just two years after he was appointed was especially controversial. He was arrested, accused of abuse of office and detained for over 100 days before the charges were dropped. He was replaced by Ola Olukoyode, an ethnic Yoruba. Some from the north felt Mr Bawa was unfairly treated and pushed aside to make way for Mr Olukoyode. "The president needs to know that the Yoruba people are just a part of the country, and all appointments should be spread across all ethnic groups and regions," social affairs analyst Isah Habibu told the BBC. Without addressing specific cases, a Tinubu spokesperson has said the president is being fair and balanced, by taking the wider view of all appointments. Media aide Sunday Dare did try to go into detail, saying overall, 71 northerners and 63 southerners had been appointed by Tinubu. But his 9 April post on X was later deleted, after people pointed out errors in his claim. He promised an updated list, but more than six month slater, it has yet to appear. Tinubu faces critics even from within his own party. Senator Ali Ndume is from the north and – like Tinubu – belongs to the All Progressives Congress. In one television interview he said he had gone on air to talk about the president's appointment "wrongdoings". Ndume said he was shocked, describing them as "non-inclusive and not reflecting the president's 'Renewed Hope' agenda, which promised to carry every section of the country along". Another presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, disputed the idea that some positions were more significant than others. "All I know is that the constitutional provisions [regarding appointments] have been taken care of by the president - there's nowhere in the constitution [where it is] mentioned top five, top 10 and the rest," he told the BBC. "The way we see it is that any position or appointment that one is privileged to serve in is very critical and important. "The national security adviser is from the north-east, the chief of defence staff is from the north-west and the secretary to the federal government is from north-central." The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which coordinates policy on behalf of the presidency, released a statement on 12 April saying Tinubu was being fair. "This administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies," it said. Political analyst Mr Lawal said the president should appoint the best person for the job, irrespective of their ethnic origin – and agues that this is what Tinubu is doing. "It's high time Nigeria looks beyond ethnicity," he said. There could be a time when Nigerians no longer obsess over the ethnic origins of those in the upper echelons of government, but historian Prof Naniya says this is still some way off. He believes it can only happen when the country gets at least four presidents in succession who give every section a sense of belonging in terms of projects and appointments. "I think it can be done but needs the right leaders." Nigeria's spectacular horse parade closing Ramadan 'I scarred my six children by using skin-lightening creams' 'How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends' Are Nigerians abroad widening the class divide back home? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat?
In Nigerian politics, there has long been an informal understanding: presidential appointments should carefully balance the country's many ethnic and religious differences. Today, there are growing concerns that this is being the constitution requires regional representation in cabinet positions, the broader distribution of other prominent roles has traditionally followed a convention aimed at fostering national cohesion. Nigeria's fractious divisions have in the past torn the country – Africa's most populous – about fairness in presidential appointments are not new, but a chorus of criticism is growing over President Bola Tinubu's picks, with some accusing the head of state – who has been in power for two years – of favouring people from his own Yoruba ethnic presidency vehemently denies the have long been fears that members of one ethnic group would come to dominate key positions – and this means that presidential appointments are closely scrutinised whenever they are are over 250 ethnic groups in the country with Hausa-Fulanis, Igbo and Yoruba – hailing from the north, south-east and south-west respectively - being the three say that Tinubu, a southern Muslim, showed signs of ignoring precedent from the onset when he picked another Muslim (although from the north) to be his running mate for the last election. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the major parties had always put forward a mixed Muslim-Christian ticket, as the country is roughly evenly divided between followers of the two appointments since becoming president in May 2023 are facing growing cricisim. Although there are dozens of roles for a head of state to fill, there are eight jobs that "are the most crucial for every administration", according to political analyst and barrister Lawal Lawal. These are the heads of the: central bankstate-owned oil company, NNPCpolicearmycustoms serviceintelligence agencyanti-corruption agency andrevenue is no constitutional ranking of positions, but collectively these roles control the key financial and security apparatus of the country. Every president inherits his predecessor's appointees, but has the prerogative to replace of April, all eight positions under Tinubu are now filled by recent appointment of former Shell boss Bayo Ojulari to head the state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), in place of a northerner turbocharged the debate about the apparent monopoly of one group in top at who filled the same posts under Tinubu's two immediate predecessors, there was no such dominance of one ethnic group at the same stage of their Jonathan – who served from 2010 to 2015 – had a relatively balanced team of two ethnic Fulanis, two Hausas, one Atyap, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one it came to Muhammadu Buhari – in power from 2015 to 2023 – the situation was less the top eight he had three Hausas, two Kanuris, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Nupe. But in the minds of many Nigerians, Hausas, Kanuris and Nupes are all seen as northerners – and therefore there was a perception that Buhari, who is from the north, showed favouritism. Some argue that Tinubu's appointments have merely continued the trend, but the 100%-Yoruba make-up of the eight key positions is unprecedented."For a democratically elected president, I cannot remember at any point in Nigerian history where you have this high concentration of a particular ethnic group holding most of the sensitive positions," history professor Tijjani Naniya told the is not just about what has happened in the past but it could have an impact on the unity and even the future of the country, the professor said. "For me, the fear is what if the next president continues on this path and picks most of the sensitive positions from his ethnic group, it diminishes the feeling of belonging among the rest and also reduces belief in democracy," he the last two years, many northerners, mostly Hausa-Fluanis, have looked at the apparent direction of travel with current men (there are no women) in charge of the NNPC, the police, customs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) all replaced removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, a Hausa, as boss of the EFCC in 2023 just two years after he was appointed was especially controversial. He was arrested, accused of abuse of office and detained for over 100 days before the charges were dropped. He was replaced by Ola Olukoyode, an ethnic from the north felt Mr Bawa was unfairly treated and pushed aside to make way for Mr Olukoyode."The president needs to know that the Yoruba people are just a part of the country, and all appointments should be spread across all ethnic groups and regions," social affairs analyst Isah Habibu told the addressing specific cases, a Tinubu spokesperson has said the president is being fair and balanced, by taking the wider view of all appointments. Media aide Sunday Dare did try to go into detail, saying overall, 71 northerners and 63 southerners had been appointed by Tinubu. But his 9 April post on X was later deleted, after people pointed out errors in his promised an updated list, but more than six month slater, it has yet to appear. Tinubu faces critics even from within his own Ali Ndume is from the north and – like Tinubu – belongs to the All Progressives Congress. In one television interview he said he had gone on air to talk about the president's appointment "wrongdoings".Ndume said he was shocked, describing them as "non-inclusive and not reflecting the president's 'Renewed Hope' agenda, which promised to carry every section of the country along".Another presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, disputed the idea that some positions were more significant than others."All I know is that the constitutional provisions [regarding appointments] have been taken care of by the president - there's nowhere in the constitution [where it is] mentioned top five, top 10 and the rest," he told the BBC."The way we see it is that any position or appointment that one is privileged to serve in is very critical and important."The national security adviser is from the north-east, the chief of defence staff is from the north-west and the secretary to the federal government is from north-central."The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which coordinates policy on behalf of the presidency, released a statement on 12 April saying Tinubu was being fair."This administration is dedicated to ensuring that all regions and demographics of the country are adequately represented in its institutions and agencies," it analyst Mr Lawal said the president should appoint the best person for the job, irrespective of their ethnic origin – and agues that this is what Tinubu is doing."It's high time Nigeria looks beyond ethnicity," he could be a time when Nigerians no longer obsess over the ethnic origins of those in the upper echelons of government, but historian Prof Naniya says this is still some way believes it can only happen when the country gets at least four presidents in succession who give every section a sense of belonging in terms of projects and appointments."I think it can be done but needs the right leaders." More BBC stories from Nigeria: Nigeria's spectacular horse parade closing Ramadan'I scarred my six children by using skin-lightening creams''How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends'Are Nigerians abroad widening the class divide back home? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
New York Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Toyin Ojih Odutola Is Drawing Up Worlds
On the eve of opening 'Ilé Oriaku,' her magisterial new exhibition of large-scale drawings — some more than six feet high, executed with equal bravura and precision in charcoal, pastel, graphite and colored pencil — Toyin Ojih Odutola was touring the show, in Jack Shainman Gallery's downtown space, calling in spirits. 'A point in Nigerian culture that I learned is that there's always ancestors with you,' said Ojih Odutola, who was born in Ilé-Ifè, Nigeria, and raised largely in Alabama. She had paused before a diptych that occupied its own little island on the gallery floor. Titled 'Lẹhin Mgbede (Before + After the Evening's Performance),' it shows characters in varying states of preparation or repose. In the backdrop — ochers and oranges in one panel, arresting pinks in the other — hover spectral faces, like witnesses from beyond. 'There's a saying that whenever you enter a room, it's not just you,' she said. 'It's all of the people who made you, entering with you. And so that's kind of what you see in the background.' Ojih Odutola, 39, is known for both her prodigious technique — her drawings often look like paintings from afar — and for her distinctive subject matter. She devises characters that are loosely based on Nigerian history and society and stages them in speculative, often gender-blurring fictional scenarios. Imagine, for example, two noble families, one Yoruba and one Igbo, united by the same-sex marriage of their scions — an elegant transgression that she developed in her breakout Whitney Museum exhibition in 2017. Or there was the conceit for her series 'Satellite,' at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2022: A technologist in a future Lagos joins a service to remedy 'self-forgetfulness' and finds themselves in introspective dialogue with a ghostly spirit. With 'Ilé Oriaku' — in this presentation, some 31 drawings made in the last two years — Ojih Odutola is showing what is arguably her most personal work yet, and also the most plural. Personal, because its prompt was the artist's grief after the death of her grandmother in 2023; the exhibition includes a rare self-portrait, a portrait of her grandmother and a few lines of elegiac text by her mother. And plural, because that inquiry found her researching Nigerian women's protests against British colonial rule; Mbari houses, structures used for spiritual and community purposes; Nigeria's post-independence intellectual energy before the crushing Biafra War; and more. But rather than transmit such topics in a didactic manner, Ojih Odutola distills them with global references — from art history, literature, fashion, current events. The result, said Leigh Raiford, a scholar at the University of California at Berkeley who has followed her career closely, is 'propulsive, immersive and dreamlike,' with a beauty that stems partly from its 'capacity to confound.' Try as one might to wedge Ojih Odutola's work into these categories with their shibboleths and stereotypes — Nigerian, African American, Black figuration — she is always bursting out. 'The freedom and autonomy of my characters is really important to me,' she said. For instance, their gender ambiguity: 'That kind of freedom is so important, especially when any kind of diasporic African expression in the figure is so restricted. I'm trying my best to just pry open as much as I can, stretch it and expand it.' Her stance is paying off, on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2024, she received the Studio Museum in Harlem's Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize, while also appearing in the Nigerian Pavilion in the Venice Biennale, an ambitious presentation of Nigerian-origin artists imagining alternative Nigerian histories and futures. Aindrea Emelife, the curator of the pavilion, said that it felt vital to include Ojih Odutola precisely for the agency that the artist demands for her characters. 'Beyond their poetic force, her works reframe the portrait as a site of power,' Emelife said. 'Her speculative storytelling elevates Nigerian narratives within the canon of contemporary art, asserting their place not as exception but as foundation.' 'Ilé Oriaku,' in its New York incarnation, includes pieces that appeared in Ojih Odutola's 2024 solo exhibition at the Kunsthalle Basel, in Switzerland, along with her works from the Venice pavilion and a few new drawings. Though many have a contemplative tone, the aggregate effect is vibrant. There's a sly, quasi-Surrealist humor in compositions like 'A Flexible Spirit (Awon ohuru),' with its fractured planes and its ludic main character clad in a gauze-like veil and red gloves. 'It's one of the Mbari spirits having a good time,' Ojih Odutola said; it's also her tribute to one of her favorite paintings, 'Mirror,' by Frank Bowling. And in 'Showa Era Drag,' which has references to a Ryuichi Sakamoto album cover and a vintage Comme des Garçons outfit of Ojih Odutola's liking, and 'Congregation,' with its three figures caught gossiping or complaining, the energy approaches camp. 'This corner is like the fun times, the partying,' Ojih Odutola said. Still, the root was sorrow. Ojih Odutola moved back to Alabama during the height of the coronavirus pandemic to get away from New York, its pressure and winters, and to be close to her parents, retired chemistry and nursing professors. She was at their home near Huntsville when the news arrived from Nigeria that her grandmother, Josephine Oriaku Ojih, who was a major presence in her childhood, had died. 'I literally had a week where I was speaking gibberish,' she said of her reaction. She thought she was making sense but was incomprehensible to her parents. This shock seeped in different ways into the work, she said. 'It was this idea of trying to encapsulate in the visuals the disconnect and dissociation I was experiencing, and how words were just not sufficient.' More directly, the exhibition includes an audio track, in which we hear her grandmother, recorded in 2018, spliced with birdsong that the artist taped outside after she heard the news. 'Ilé Oriaku' extends a kind of social and psychological deconstruction long present in Ojih Odutola's work. With Yoruba and Muslim roots (on her father's side) and Igbo and Christian ones (on her mother's), and having spent formative years in the American South, she processes the accumulated cultural information as a kind of cosmos of possibility. (The title alone — 'Ilé' is 'house' in Yoruba, while 'Oriaku,' her grandmother's name, is an Igbo word — would be an unusual, even illogical juxtaposition to many Nigerian ears, yet makes inherent sense for her.) To add, say, references to 18th-century Japanese prints or classic Hollywood movies, reflects how these and other sources have shaped her tastes and ideas. 'I think it's important to understand that what you are is because of a disparate group of agents and elements,' she said. 'Not just in your family line, but globally as well. I'm very attuned to that, and it's in my pictures.' It's a far cry, yet also a coherent journey from her early exhibitions of monochrome black ballpoint portrait studies on plain white backgrounds that were technically remarkable yet verged on austere. Now she is filling the frame: 'I like the idea that you can make surfaces be activated,' she said. 'And not just the skin now. It's the entire environment.' After her grandmother's death, Ojih Odutola found herself not only going over Mrs. Ojih's life story but delving deeper back into the stories of Igbo women before her. She landed on the Aba Women's Rebellion, a key episode in colonial history when Igbo women, in late 1929 rejected an increase in taxation by the British. A woman named Nwanyeruwa confronted a tax collector who, as the story goes, grabbed her by the throat, prompting the women's mobilization. In 'Nwanyeruwa (Aba Women's Rebellion),' Ojih Odutola imagines this historical figure as a village elder, bare-chested, facing away from the viewer. She gazes at an oversize rendering of herself, clad in a purple wrap, streaking superhero-like across the backdrop. She is not the only female icon here. At the entrance of the exhibition's main area, a small portrait of the artist's grandmother, looks over the gallery. We see her bald head and neck in profile, face turned slightly toward the viewer, against yellow, green and beige pastels. She wears a ring high on her ear. Her expression is quiet — possibly judging, yet generous. The drawing — 'Must She Account for Everything?' — tries to encapsulate the essential reassurance Ojih Odutola carries from her grandmother, she said. 'It's that look of, 'I know you're worried but just go ahead. You're fine, you're OK. Go ahead, I'm behind you.''
