Who was Uche Okeke, and Why is he Important Today?

Published 29 May 2025 in The Man

Uche Okeke Legacy Editorial

Uche Okeke (1933–2016) was a foundational figure in modern Nigerian art and an influential advocate for indigenous artistic traditions in postcolonial Africa. His importance lies in his role as a cultural theorist, educator, and artist who helped redefine the direction of modern African art by centring it within African heritage, particularly through the Uli aesthetic.

Professor Uche Okeke at a presentation by Professor Ola Oloidi

Early Life and Education

Born in Nimo, in southeastern Nigeria, Uche Okeke studied at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), where he co-founded the  Zaria Art Society - a group of student artists committed to developing a new visual language for a postcolonial Nigeria - alongside Demas Nwoko and Bruce Onobrakpeya. The group’s guiding philosophy was “Natural Synthesis,” which encouraged the merging of Western techniques with indigenous Nigerian (especially Igbo) cultural forms.

The Uli Revival

Uche Okeke’s most significant contribution was the revival and reinterpretation of Uli, a traditional Igbo art form involving linear body and wall designs created by women. He elevated Uli from its customary context into a modernist idiom, using it in drawings, paintings, and murals. This adaptation was not merely aesthetic - it was political and philosophical. Okeke believed in art as a tool for cultural liberation, and saw the incorporation of indigenous forms as a way to resist colonial legacies in art education and practice, and ensure the longevity of cultural practices.

Uche Okeke, Uli, Linoprint, 16.6 x 15.9 inches

The Nsukka School

In 1970, Okeke joined the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as acting head of the Fine Arts Department. There, he mentored a generation of artists -including Obiora Udechukwu, and fellow colleagues at the university, Chike Aniakor and El Anatsui - and established what came to be known as the Nsukka School. The School became internationally recognised for integrating Uli and other indigenous systems into contemporary art practice. Under Okeke’s leadership, Nsukka became a site of artistic innovation that bridged traditional African forms with contemporary issues and methods.

Philosophy and Writings

Okeke was also a theorist and writer. His 1960 manifesto “Natural Synthesis” (written during the Zaria Art Society era) argued for a decolonised art rooted in African reality. He also translated Igbo folktales into visual narratives, connecting art with oral tradition and communal knowledge. His publications and curatorial projects, including contributions to Pan-African exhibitions, further solidified his role as an intellectual leader in African modernism.

Uche Okeke, Sacrifice (9 of 15), Linoprint, 20 x 15 inches, 1974

Legacy

Uche Okeke’s legacy is vast:

• He transformed Uli into a critical visual language of modern Nigerian art.

• He educated and inspired leading contemporary artists across Africa.

• He challenged Eurocentric art paradigms by rooting creativity in African epistemologies.

• He was instrumental in articulating a distinct postcolonial modernism grounded in African values, aesthetics, and philosophy.

In sum, the importance of Uche Okeke’s legacy lies in his synthesis of art, cultural identity, and education, shaping not only Nigeria’s post-independence art history but also contributing to broader discourses in global modernism and decolonialising aesthetics.