David Herbert Dale was a great artist, one of Nigeria’s greatest. He created artworks in beads, water colour, stained glass, etching and more.
I met Dale around 1998, when I got an appointment to interview him at his Adebola, Surulere Street, Lagos, residence for ThisDay Style. That first meeting marked the beginning of friendship that lasted for years and his house almost became a second home for me.
When Dale died on August 6, 2019 three months shy of age 72, I remembered our discussions which always centred on art. He belonged to a group in the Nigerian art community called the Zaria Art Society known to many people as the Zaria Rebels, and occupying a significant, magisterial position in that community of artists is Prof Demas Nwoko, internationally acclaimed artist, architect, designer and cultural icon, who is today (Saturday, 20 November) marking his 90th birthday.
The Zaria Rebels were a group of art students at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University), who fundamentally reshaped modern African art.
They led a “decolonisation” of the Nigerian art world, moving away from European imitations toward a style that felt authentically African.
Demas Nwoko was born on 20 December 1935 at Idumuje Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. His father,
Obi Nwoko II, designed an architectural monument
as his palace, among other building activities. This kindled his son’s
interest in architecture from an early age.
But in 1957 he was admitted into the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology to read fine arts, graduating in 1961.
The childhood love for architecture made him to pursue private studies in creative architecture from 1956 in Ibadan, Nigeria. He later moved to France where he first studied theatre architecture and design (scenography) at Centre Francais Du Theatre. At the Ecole Des Beaux-Art both in Paris, he studied Fresco Painting and architectural
decoration from 1961 to 1962.
He became a pioneer staff of the School of Drama, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, teaching Designs, Directing and Applied Aesthetics from 1963 – 78.
He practised architecture alongside arts. Apart from private residences among his architectural and construction works are:
•The Independence Pavilion, 1960;
•The Dominican Institute, Samonda Ibadan;
•The New Culture Studios, Oremeji, Ibadan;
•The Oba Akenzua Centre for Arts and Culture, Benin City, Nigeria;
•The Benedictine Monastery, Ewu, Edo State;
•Pierce Chapel, Issele-Uku, Delta State Nigeria;
•Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.
In art he carried out experimental production styles which resulted in
‘The Palmwine Drinkard’ for a travelling theatre troupe in 1963. This was also presented as Nigeria’s entry at the Pan African Cultural Festival held at Algeria in 1969.
He produced a dance play, ‘Dance’ which was presented at the first Negro Art Festival of Dakar, Senegal in 1966.
Demas Nwoko also produced a dance titled the ‘Olympic Dance’ and it became the Nigerian cultural presentation at the Olympic Games of Mexico 1968.
When Nigeria hosted the Second World Festival for the Black world, FESTAC in 1977, he presented another dance-play called the ‘Children of Paradise’.
In 1978, Nwoko left teaching at the University of Ibadan to establish the African Design Development Centre, a building component and materials development centre in his birthplace, Idumuje Ugboko. All theatre fittings for the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre were designed and manufactured there. These include structural steel, wood works, theatre seats and some light fittings.
The Centre has trained and converted many artists, architects and technologists into entrepreneurs who produce culturally and industrially viable buildings, equipment and goods.
According to a statement shared by his daughter, Mrs Anyibofu Nwoko-Ugbodaga, Demas Nwoko along with other art giants like, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, J.P Clark (to mention a few) were pioneering members of the Mbari Club established in 1961 in Ibadan. It was a centre for cultural activity by African writers, artists and musicians. The Mbari Club became synonymous with optimism and creative exuberance of Africa’s post-independence era. It is worthy of note that it acted as the publisher of Black Orpheus magazine founded by Uli Beier in the 1960s.
Nwoko has been recognised and honoured internationally. One of such came in May 2023 when he received The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale Venezia, further cementing his global influence.
The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement is an award given at the Venice Film Festival. It is awarded to directors, actors and other personalities from the world of cinema who have distinguished themselves in the art.
In December 2023, he was invited to speak on architecture for the people and honoured at the Night of Ideas hosted by the Embassy of France in Nigeria and French Institute for research in Africa.
Even at an advanced age, Nwoko is still active, deeply engaged in design, writing, and mentorship. He founded The New Culture School of Arts and Design, dedicated to nurturing future generations of artists and architects. He has two published books—”Concrete Thinking” and “The Happy Little African Prince”—which give account of decades of artistic and architectural philosophy and offers an interesting account of his life and creative journey, respectively. This is a clear indication that he continues to shape global conversations on African creativity, architecture, and cultural identity.
Demas Nwoko, the nonagenarian, lives with his wife Eunice Nwoko and is blessed with five children, Adaoha, Ashim, Anyibuofu, Oluchukwu and Chibututu; 14 grand-children and eight great grand-children.
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