Oliver Enwonwu: A Continued Legacy - Ikenga Panel Discussion

Join us for a panel discussion at Oliver Enwonwu's exhibition, A Continued Legacy, in collaboration with the art of his father, Ben Enwonwu.

The panellists Oliver Enwonwu, Nike Awoyinka and Anna Marie Benedict focus on the themes of the indigenous female form, strength and resilience.

Discover how both Enwonwu's work honours these aspects, reflecting the enduring primordial feminine power.

Ben Enwonwu’s notable works include three portraits of Adetutu "Tutu" Ademiluyi, a young Yoruba princess, created during national reconciliation after the Nigerian/Biafran conflict.

Enwonwu, an Igbo artist, sought to bridge cultural divides by painting Yoruba subjects, and his Tutu portraits became iconic. His son, Oliver Enwonwu, continues this tradition by painting Adetutu’s niece, Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi.

The original Tutu paintings, celebrated for their enigmatic quality and significance in Nigerian art, captured Adetutu’s regal beauty and contributed to Enwonwu’s artistic legacy. The principal 1973 Tutu portrait's whereabouts remain unknown, adding to its mystique.