Uche Okeke ART IN DEVELOPMENT A Nigerian Perspective

16 March 2019

Uche Okeke’s ART IN DEVELOPMENT – A Nigerian Perspective is the most important publication by the founding father of Nigerian modernism. Originally published in 1982, the book compiles texts, interviews, concept papers and other material from the later 1950s until the 1980s, containing such important texts like the Natural Synthesis manifesto of the Zaria Art Society from 1960. 

Having been out of print for many years, this re-edition by iwalewabooks has brought these texts back to life for artists, academics and an interested public. 

Published by Iwalewa Books

Hardcover

175 Pages

US$45 (excl. shipping)

Contact us to purchase

Overview of Art in Development – A Nigerian Perspective

This republished anthology (originally compiled in 1982, reissued in 2019 by Iwalewabooks) is a foundational text for understanding Uche Okeke’s artistic philosophy, political engagement, and intellectual journey. It is both autobiographical and manifesto-like, offering reflections on:

• Natural Synthesis: A theory championing the integration of indigenous Nigerian forms and modernist techniques, coined during his Zaria Art Society years (1958–1961).

• The Role of the Artist: Okeke presents the artist as both a cultural worker and a visionary within society, responsible for expressing and reshaping national consciousness.

• Postcolonial Cultural Identity: The book traces the transformation from traditional forms to transitional colonial influence and toward a self-defined modern Nigerian art.

• Educational Reform: A recurring theme is Okeke’s insistence on curriculum decolonization at Nigerian art institutions, particularly at Nsukka.

• Art and Politics: Through essays like Art and Revolution (1968) and reflections on the Biafran War, Okeke ties art directly to nation-building and sociopolitical agency.

• The Asele Institute: His lifelong project in Nimo as a living archive and cultural center, embodying his vision of synthesis and rooted scholarship.

Contents & Highlights

The book comprises:

• Speeches, manifestos, and letters (1958–1982)

• Early declarations from Zaria Art Society, including Growth of an Idea and Natural Synthesis

• Reflections on his aesthetic evolution, such as Reflection on My Art and These I Have Loved

• Scholarly essays on art history and pedagogy in Nigeria

• Documentation of art institutions, conferences, and exhibitions

• A rich annex of biographical details, lists of exhibitions, and artwork plates (many housed at the Asele Institute)