Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye

Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye is a versatile artist with a large national and international following which surely represents her professionalism and expertise in the Nigerian creative economy. Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye is a living legend and you will be intrigued to know that she is a professor who has taught in several foreign universities though she did not go through formal education. 

She has lectured and held workshops in prestigious institutions across the world such as Harvard, Columbus, Edmonton, Ohio and in Los Angeles, among others. Her first experience of teaching was in 1974 as a 23-year-old where she taught people with doctoral degrees. Talk about a flying star.

Born in the 195Os, Nigeria’s pre-independence era. Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye grew up in an artistic family whose talents were in the area of cloth weaving, Adire making, indigo dying and leather. Her artistic skills were developed by her parents and great grandmother, who were musicians and craftspeople. Vocational training in art was passed down to her by her great grandmother, late madam Ibikunle who was an “Adire” textile maker and a dyer of fabric during her days in the village of Ogidi-Ijumu, her birth place. 

Watching her great grandmother in the art of “Adire” textile processing and helping her out in “Adire” making, she worked hard to become an expert in “Adire” textile making, dyeing, weaving, painting and embroidery. In Nigeria, vocational skills are passed from one generation to another thereby sustaining the family trade skills and history.

She steadily built upon what her great grandmother taught her and went ahead to develop her own style and technique in textile design and painting, and how to effectively present them for exhibitions.  Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye also spent part of her life in Oshogbo which is recognized as one of the foremost art and culture center in Nigeria. During her stay in Oshogbo, her informal training was dominated by indigo and adire. She is an excellent alumni and ambassador of the famous Oshogbo Art School in Nigeria.

She is a Social Entrepreneur and a Philanthropist who has used her experience and skills to create free learning centers which offer free training to homebased and international artists in visual, musical and performing arts – one of which is the largest art gallery in West Africa, compromising over 7,000 artworks. The center also serves as a rich source of knowledge for traditional arts and culture to scholars and institutions.

Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye has participated in many international shows. She has had over 102 solo art exhibitions and 36 group art exhibitions in her artistic life. Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye’s art works can be found in many private homes collections and public institutions collections including schools, colleges, universities, palaces and museums all over the world. Two of Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye’s major art works “Liberal Women Protest March (Parts 1 & 2)” were collected by The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC, USA for permanent display in 2012. There is hardly any eminent museum in the world that does not have Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye’s work. She is an artist of many parts – she drums, directs plays, dances, paints, and trains young adults on these skills. She has inspired a younger generation of designers such as Amaka Osakwe (and her label Maki-Oh) and Duro Olowu.

As a promoter and advocate of the Nigerian cultural heritage, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye has won several awards. Some of which are:

In 2002, she was bestowed with an award of distinction by the National Association of Kogi State Students in recognition of her efforts in promoting Art awareness among the youths in Nigeria.

In 2002, she was awarded and admitted as a fellow of the institute of The Pan – African Circle of Artists of Nigeria in recognition of her commitment to the promotion of art education in Nigeria.

In 2003, a certificate of merit was awarded to her by the Okun Yoruba people of Kogi State of Nigeria in recognition of her efforts in youth development in Nigeria.

In 2004, she was awarded an honorary certificate of merit by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Osun State Chapter in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of Nigerian cultural heritage.

In 2005, the National Commission for Museum and Monument of Nigeria awarded het a certificate of excellence in recognition of her efforts in the development of Nigerian cultural heritage.

In 2005, the Department of Fine Art, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife awarded Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye a certificate of merit in recognition of her efforts in the promotion of art education in Nigeria.

In 2009, The “CEPAN Foundation” of Nigeria awarded Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye a plaque of honor for being the African Art Icon of the year.

In 2010, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria presented her with a golden plaque of honor in recognition of her noble role in the fight towards drugs free Nigeria society.

In 2010, the Osun State Council for Art & Culture presented her with a golden plaque of excellence for being one of the leading “Patron of Art & Culture” in the State.

In 2011, the “Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture” presented Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye with a crystal plaque of honor for her leadership and entrepreneurship roles in Nigerian commerce and industry.

In 2011, the Art Galleries Association of Nigeria (AGAN) in collaboration with the Nigerian National Gallery of Art (NGA) presented Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye with a plaque and a certificate of honor for art dealer of the year.

In 2011, the SISI-OGE Foundation of Nigeria awarded Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye a crystal plaque for her outstanding dedication in the promotion of Nigerian cultural heritage.

In 2012, The Business and Professional Women of Nigeria Association honored Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye for her Outstanding and Leadership quality in area of her entrepreneurial spirit and her role as a change agent in promoting art and culture globally and for the empowerment of rural community women and young people.

In November 2012, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye was presented a plaque of honour ward by the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FAAN) for her support and contribution to the growth and development of Female Artists in Nigeria.

In December 2012, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye was presented a plaque of honour ward by the National Council for Art & Culture (NCAC) in Abuja in recognition of her efforts in the promotion of Nigerian Creative Industry and Empowerment through Visual Art.

In May 2013, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye was presented with a golden trophy by the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos in appreciation of her contributions to the development of the National Museum in Lagos.

In June 2013, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye was presented with a golden plaque, titled “Life Achievement Award” by the Ogidi Development Union in Kogi State in recognition of her efforts in the development of Ogidi village in Kogi State of Nigeria, her birth place.

In March 2014, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye was invited by the First Lady of Kogi State under the auspices of “Kogi State Women Association of Nigeria” and she was awarded “Women Inspirational Award – 2014” in recognition of her efforts in motivating and economically empowering the rural women of Kogi State.

I am sure you are inspired, what to do with this inspiration, you might ask, please head to her website – www.nikeart.com where further information can be found on her workshops. As a firm believer in creative expressions, you are urged to try your hands-on learning of the skills she teaches, we know by her story that the sky is only the beginning. 

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