Nike Davies-Okudaye is an indigene of Ogidi, Kogi State, who spent her early years in Oshogbo, Osun State. She is internationally known for her arts, love for Batik, and Adire-making. Davies-Okudaye is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist, who also empowers women by teaching them how to make Adire fabrics. Mama Nike is the Managing Director/CEO of the Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Oshogbo where training is offered free of charge to all Nigerians. She is also the CEO of Nike Art Gallery Lekki, Lagos. Mama Nike speaks with Azuka Ogujiuba about turning 70, the women exhibition that took place at her gallery on international women’s day, and her relationship with the Oba of Elegushi Kingdom where her gallery is located
How do you feel turning 70 years?
I feel very excited because I never knew I would get to70, my mother died before she was 30. For me reaching 70 is a great achievement in my life. I thank all the organisers who make it possible for me to celebrate my birthday, I am so happy to reach 70 years.
Is there something you wish you had done before now?
Yes. Looking back, what I think I should have done that I haven’t done is to build a school. I have a centre but I have to build it like a school where people will be getting certificates. It will be like academia, which I don’t have, that is what I am still looking to do.
Do you have any regret in life so far?
So far, I thank God, I don’t have any regret but I only think when I see people speaking good English, I always wish I had that education, which I don’t have but I will make sure my children have good education.
Why do you love Adire fabrics so much?
It is because it is the original textile from our country and also it is the only textile that talks, which can be used to communicate with people in those days. I love Adire because it is the heritage pattern, cultural textile and also it is something from our youth that everybody has.
We know you had a special exhibition for young women artists this year in your gallery to celebrate Women’s international day, tell us about it?
Well, I want to tell you this year is Choose to Challenge … I was so happy about the title of the IWD programme here. When you look at the challenge people have, I was happy to see the younger people who are going through the same thing our mothers have passed through because young women are now raising their babies. They don’t think because they raise babies, they will sit back and be a housewife. They are working, painting and doing all sorts of work. And an artist also comes to show their voice “My work is my voice.” That is why they had the exhibition this year.
Who hosted the Exhibition?
Female Artist Association of Nigeria (FEAN). They have 3000-4000 members. Their president is Chinze and the South-west region is headed by Chinyere.
What advice do you have for a woman who is being maltreated by her husband because of her rising profile?
I’ll say such a woman should have patience and focus on what makes her happy. Once you have patience, there is nothing you can’t overcome. Most of all, education has helped many of our women. Some of them have doctorate degrees, while their husbands have bachelor’s degrees and they still give the respect they deserve but won’t give up on their careers. You should have patience and focus on what makes you happy. If you are a lawyer and art is your line, do the lawyer for the money and art for the passion. And in the case of domestic violence, the woman has a voice, her work is her voice. You can afford to put something on the table, leave! We don’t want to see them die … they are our daughters.
Recently the president of Tanzania died and the vice was a woman, do you see that happening in Nigeria soon?
Well, soon. Soon, it is going to happen. When you talk about 54 countries, Nigeria is the giant … So why not us?
Let us go back to art which we know you for. For so many years, this has been your life. If you didn’t have this opportunity, what else would you have done?
Maybe I could have been a Nun. Because of my life before art, I am a fifth-generation artist. I started when I was six years old with my great-grandmother. If I were not an artist, I would have become a Nun. If I got a good education, I would have been a Rev. Sister because I always like to teach or maybe a teacher. The first choice after art is a Nun because I like to work with the community and give a part of my talent.
This gallery has been on for how many years?
I moved to this gallery in 2008 and I got my first gallery in 1967, in Osogbo … My bedroom used to be my first gallery where I displayed my artwork… Life is art.
Growing up as a young lady, which artist inspired you?
The artist that inspired me in Osogbo was Susan Wenger. She was a white woman who came to our country to learn Adire… She was a painter from Australia and she came to Nigeria to learn Adire in Ede. She was here before I was born. She was here in 1950 and I was born in 1951. My aunt brought me to Osogbo, I was an apprentice to her. Like in those days when knowledge was passed from one generation unto the other. So I was taken to Mama Susan and I could barely speak English but she told me to speak Yoruba because she understood Yoruba. She spoke to me and encouraged me to learn. She put me through and I also learned the art by myself.
How does it feel knowing Nike Art Gallery is the centre of attraction when it comes to art in Nigeria?
It is a lot of hard work. When I leave here, I’ll have my three hours at night to work on my bead-works and during the day , I work two hours on my water colour … It is a lot of hard work and I still have to make sure there is food for my husband. What makes Nike Art Gallery popular is that we share with the younger generation. The younger generation has the voice and what I’m doing doesn’t carry only older artists. I carry younger and older artists along. I want them to feel that they have a place … When I went to the US in 1964, 10 of us were selected in Africa and I was the only female. We were told to bring back something to benefit our people. They took us to galleries, universitiesr, Art and Craft centres and I chose the gallery, because I called my bedroom the Africa Art Shop No 1. I taught the other wives of my husband Art and once we’re done, we hang it up in my room. Art shouldn’t be sold on the floor, it should be displayed on the wall. The day I opened this gallery was my happiest day. That way many voices would be heard. Their work is their voice …
The FEAN; I’ll like to know more about the exhibition
The FEAN is basically to support women … Men are not supposed to exhibit but they do come to support female artists… I am the Godmother of all the female artists exhibiting. I’m giving an avenue to promote female artists and showcase their talents.
How do you feel seeing these young ladies following their passion?
First, I want to thank their parents for supporting them because many parents do not want to hear anything short of the white collar job we are all familiar with. They think art is something that doesn’t bring money on time. Art is not just a subject or profession, it is the way of life and it exists literally everywhere. It is the bedrock of every profession and creativity is in everybody.
The art industry in Nigeria is commendable, what do you think is lacking in the industry right now and what should be the way forward?
The way forward is for our government to help us to build National Gallery for contemporary artists so that artists will have a place of their own. Our government has to support the artists in a big way by creating museums. We don’t even have enough room to put the Art and artists are creating something new everyday. They should give us a place to showcase our works. In South Africa, there is a gallery association sponsored by the government. Every year, they give grant to support the upcoming artists by paying for all their artworks. I will like the Nigerian government to give us this type of opportunity of building more galleries and buying the art to put in museum and in government offices.
When you’re not busy, what is your vacation lifestyle like?
You know what Yoruba say “Ojo iku, lojo isimi”. The day you die is the day you rest. My past one month in Houston has been dedicated to work. I created a new design made with “Gold Leaf” and it is going to be in my next exhibition. So, it is hard to stay somewhere and say I want to chill out. You know artists die with brush in their hands. I love what I’m doing and that’s my vacation lifestyle. This is what relaxes me, especially at night.
How did your background shape your life ?
‘Na suffer head.’ I know with hard work, everything can change for you. The second day after I had my baby, I had to go for a labourer’s job to feed my baby but now art is sustaining me.
Since I’ve known you all my life, I’ve not seen you wear something different from Adire, can you be caught wearing something that is not Adire?
Maybe when going out with the Kabiyesi or Oba Elegushi. I always find it difficult because there is no white Adire. So, whenever I travel with the Ooni, I’m the only one wearing Adire. So to avoid that, most times I wear my white and throw my indigo on my shoulder. I think it is my way of life. The Adire is a color of love, love for husband, for your country. I just enjoy wearing wearable art. It is something you made; you will enjoy looking at it.
What is your view about Oba Elegushi and his wife towards the artistic world?
They are the only ones that gave us the art market; Elegushi Art market. He is an art lover and he even gave me a Chieftaincy title: Yeye Honor of Ikate land. He also gave his children the opportunity to learn Adire. He is one of our biggest supporters.
What is your greatest fear is life?
To be afraid? I don’t know. I am not afraid of death because I know something must kill a man. What I tell people to overcome fear is to plant a seed, water it and you’ll reap it. What you plant, you will reap. I fear only God.
