Ugonna Ibekwe
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana, which means “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” The word Sankofa is translated as made up of three words: SAN (return), KO (go), and FA (look, seek, and take). While the statement is very important and wishes one well, artists have found a way to represent it in what is known as the Sankofa bird symbol of the Akan people. The bird is mythically described as having a firm, planted-forward foot with its head turned backward. Thus, learning from the past ensures a strong future, or the attribute of turning back to remember and fetch something from the past. This is exactly what the Garland Prize represents to Gerald Chukwuma.
Every year since 2022, the graduating painting major students at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria Nsukka, now the Department of Fine and Industrial Art, have showcased two selected works in a sectional competition known as the Garland Art Prize. Here, the top painter of the graduating class is selected, kicking off the merit award process.
Established in 2022, the Gerald Chukwuma Art Prize is a newly established award funded by contemporary artist Gerald Chukwuma. Motivated by fond memories of his undergraduate training in painting, Chukwuma sought to give back by supporting the next generation of painters from his alma mater, thereby helping the next one in line. The prize includes N150,000 in cash as of the last time and a fully sponsored solo exhibition for the winner, who must display a minimum of 15 artworks available for sale, with total profits going directly to the artist.
In 2023, the first two winners, Elijah Godfrey from the class of 2021 and Obinna Eze from the class of 2022, held the inaugural Garland exhibition titled “Garland 1 & 2” at the Obiora Udechukwu Gallery, University of Nigeria Nsukka. The exhibition catalogue, with a foreword by the head of Fine and Applied Arts Department, Dr. C.V. Okpara and an introduction by Professor Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi and Ugonna Ibekwe, who also served as the exhibition curator, is available online.
At the opening of the exhibition, most speakers emphasised the importance of Chukwuma’s contribution to nurturing the winners’ careers. The exhibition opened with a display of each artist’s 15 artworks on one side of the hall. Godfrey, a native of Utu-Ikot Ekpeyong village in the Ikot-Epene local government area of Akwa Ibom State, had his vibrant, semi-abstract paintings immerse viewers in the natural world through bold colours and energetic mark-making. His canvases capture the intricate patterns of tree trunks, the radiance of sunflowers, and alluring female faces, both distorted and contemporary. Accessible and appealing, his work celebrates nature’s synergy with human culture. Pieces like “Prisoners of Emotion,” “Ecstasy,” “Faces,” and “The Odd” resonate universally through their exuberant beauty.
On the other wall, Eze, a native of the Uhunowerre Igbo-Eze South local government area of Enugu State, draws inspiration from Igbo artistic traditions, incorporating Uli and Nsibidi motifs. This heritage anchors his exploration of culture, spirituality, and folklore. Lyrical lines and colours poetically unveil Igbo wisdom across three series: “Nsuka,” “Asusu Obi,” and “Nwa Uli.” “Nsuka” honours Uli’s enduring aesthetic power. “Asusu Obi” promotes emotional growth through symbolic messaging. “Nwa Uli” ponders the journey from childhood to adulthood. Eze upholds the Nsukka philosophy through his art.
As the 2022–2023 academic session comes to a close in early April, a new generation of Garland winners will emerge, and Chukwuma is looking forward to hosting Garland 3 in May. He has expressed his motivation to continue the award and even expand it for a greater impact. The award also honours Nsukka’s art school’s rich creative heritage and serves as a significant bridge that launches the young award recipient’s career. It is important that more individuals and organisations support these promising painters and other talented students as they embark on their careers.
•Ibekwe, an artist and art historian, writes from Nsukka
