…Salute to tireless dedication to activism, advocacy
As we celebrate Dele Jegede’s 80th birthday, we honour his tireless dedication to creative activism and advocacy. His life’s work serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that art can have on society and the importance of using one’s platforms to speak truth to power
By Tunde Olanipekun
dele jegede’s remarkable life and career are a testament to his unwavering commitment to creative activism and advocacy. As a renowned artist, cartoonist, and scholar, Jegede has consistently used his platforms to address social justice issues, critique corrupt regimes, and promote Nigerian culture.
Born on April 19, 1945, between the heights of Conical Aarole and the sprawling Olosunta mountains of Ikere Ekiti. Jegede’s work spans multiple mediums, including painting, cartooning, and writing. His cartoons, particularly “Kole Omole” (“Kole the Menace”), have become iconic in Nigerian popular culture, offering subtle yet potent commentary on the country’s socio-political landscape ¹.
Jegede’s paintings, such as “Eko ree” and “Paradise Battered,” showcase his ability to tackle complex themes like poverty, corruption, and environmental degradation. These works demonstrate his distinctive style, which blends traditional African influences with contemporary sensibilities.
Throughout his career, Jegede has received numerous accolades and has been recognized for his contributions to Nigerian art and culture. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists, activists, and scholars.
As we celebrate Dele Jegede’s 80th birthday, we honour his tireless dedication to creative activism and advocacy. His life’s work serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that art can have on society and the importance of using one’s platforms to speak truth to power.
Dele Jegede’s remarkable life and career are a testament to the impact of creative activism and advocacy. As we celebrate his 80th birthday, we also honour other artists around the world and in Nigeria who have used their platforms to speak truth to power.
These artists, among many others, demonstrate the power of creative activism and advocacy in driving social change and promoting justice. Their works serve as a reminder of the impact that art can have on society and the importance of using one’s platforms to speak truth to power.
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…we honour not just a man, but a legacy
As he celebrates his 80th birthday today, we honour not just a man, but a legacy. A legacy built on intellect, humour, and heart. May this milestone be filled with joy, and may the years ahead bring him continued health, inspiration, and the quiet satisfaction of a life well lived
Photo credit: Adumadan in 2023 of Bruce Onobrakpeya and Dele Jegede at the High Museum in Atlanta
By Mudiare Onobrakpeya
WRITING about Dr. Dele Jegede brings back a wave of memories, of conversations, encounters, and quiet reflections over the span of more than four decades. His life has been a remarkable journey marked by passion, purpose, and a fierce commitment to the power of art and scholarship. Dele has never merely existed within the art world; he has helped shape it, challenge it, and elevate it with every brushstroke, cartoon panel, and published line.
I first encountered him during my undergraduate days at the University of Lagos. He was part of a vibrant circle at the Centre for Cultural Studies, under the pioneering guidance of Professor Ebun Clark. It was a fertile period, and Dele stood out—not just because of his wit and intellect, but because he genuinely believed that culture should inform and elevate everyday life. Together with people like Abayomi Barber, he helped to bring thoughtful, high-quality programming to the university community. Their work ignited minds and stirred imaginations. One of such that I remember was an retrospective on Demas Nwoko, and a week long celebration of Herbert Ogunde
Outside the university, his presence was equally profound. At Yaba College of Technology, Dele became not just a lecturer, but a mentor, a role model, and a custodian of excellence. Students admired him, colleagues respected him, and his reputation as both a practitioner and a scholar continued to grow. His cartoon work was biting and bold—speaking truth to power with humour and clarity. His paintings held a different kind of depth—reflective, layered, and rich with narrative. And then there were the essays, lectures, and curatorial work—each one contributing to the broader conversation on African modernism. I count myself fortunate not only to have known him personally, but also to be a proud collector of one of his paintings done in 1990, an oil on canvas piece that speaks volumes, both artistically and emotion.
After his sabbatical at Spelman College in Atlanta, Dele moved into American academia, taking up leadership roles at Indiana State University and later at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He embraced this new terrain with the same integrity and vision that marked his earlier years. Oxford, just outside of Cincinnati, became home—a familiar corner of the world to me as well, having lived in that city for many years. I take some comfort in knowing that he has settled into a community that allows him the quiet space to continue reflecting and creating.
Despite the miles between Nigeria and the U.S., Dele never turned his back on home. His scholarly work on Akinola Lasekan was not only timely—it was vital. And in editing Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Mask of the Flaming Arrows, he once again lent his voice to the documentation and interpretation of African art from within. His ability to move between worlds—geographically, intellectually, and artistically—is something few achieve with such grace and clarity.
As he celebrates his 80th birthday today, we honour not just a man, but a legacy. A legacy built on intellect, humour, and heart. May this milestone be filled with joy, and may the years ahead bring him continued health, inspiration, and the quiet satisfaction of a life well lived.
- Mudiare is a President of Bruce Onabrakpeya Foundation, BoF.
