Bruce Onobrakpeya, one of Nigeria’s foremost modern artists, painters and sculptors, has been awarded the ‘Grand Master of Etching’ for his foresight in modern art.

The award was presented to him at a special 90th birthday celebration organised for him by organisers of the Artmiabo International Art Festival (AMIAF) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Miabo Enyadike, Founder/CEO of Artmiabo, based in South Africa, said they decided to hold a festival in Lagos to celebrate Mr Onobrakpeya for his great works and achievement.

“Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya turns 90 in August, but we want to be the first in Africa because they have already started celebrating Prof Bruce in the U.S.,” explained Ms Enyadike. “The entire black history month in the U.S fell in the beginning of the year, where he was celebrated, a lot of universities celebrated Prof Bruce, and he is just coming back from those celebrations.”

Speaking further, she noted, “And I thought about it and I said, how outsiders can be celebrating our own, where here we haven’t. We should be celebrating Prof Bruce here in Nigeria. So, decided that we are holding a festival to celebrate him.”

According to her, the award was given because of his artistic reputation worldwide. 

The Artmiabo International Art Festival (AMIAF) will host 24 of the finest artists from Africa and Europe from April 29 to May 1 in Lagos.

The festival features works of artists including Onobrakpeya, Adeola Balogun, John Onobrakpeya, Tamaraemi Larry, Olufunke Ojukwu, Segun Okewumi, Oladipupo Adesina, Yusuf Durodola, Muni King-Keazor, Adebisi, Miabo Enyadike and Yetunde Ojatula.

(NAN)