ONE of the titans of Nigerian art, Abayomi Barber, has passed on. Shock and disbelief greeted the art community as his fellow artists broke into dirges and eulogies. Not that anyone expected him to live forever, but at 93, Barber was not only a heart-warming mortal, he was also still producing beautiful works that define him as Nigeria’s father of surrealism.
In succession, three press releases grip the moment that made mincemeat of the nation’s mood. The Society of Nigerian Artists (Lagos State Chapter) is the first to break the sad news. Signed by its Chairman, Olojo-Kosoko Kolawole, the release titled Call to Glory “affectionately announces the glorious translocation of one of Nigeria’s most famous visual artists, Professor Abayomi Barber.” It then goes on to describe the progenitor of the famous Abayomi Barber School of Thought as a national treasure who got duly celebrated for his artistic genius and impacts by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Gallery of Art in May, 2021.” Barber’s paintings are surrealist in nature while his sculptures are naturalistic.”
The second release is from the Abayomi Barber School of Thoughts, a group of exhibiting artists founded by Barber himself. It used to be known as Abayomi Barber School of Art until the group was re-christened in the 1980’s by Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, seasoned culture administrator, as Abayomi Barber School of Thoughts. Members of the school include celebrated Nigerian artists like Muri Adejimi, Olumuyiwa Spencer, Toyin Alade, Bunmi Lasaki and many others. The unsigned release is shared on social media by Bunmi Lasaki. They take solace in “the conviction that Baba had a very purposeful and impactful life.”
In its own release, the National Society of Nigerian Artists led by the Abuja-based cerebral Muhammad Sulaiman, avers that Barber “will be remembered for his unique attention to details, sculpting and painting through the phases of his years as an artist of very high and distinguished repute, a master that gave his all over the course of his life to the growth of our Noble profession.”
Within few minutes of Barber’s passing, a torrents of eulogies and dirges rend the air as the Nigerian visual art community is thrown into mourning. Kunle Filani, artist, scholar and former provost of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta describes Barber as a great Master who “in spite of being self-effacing resonated as a creative genius of his generation.” He says further, “With sleight of hands, Abayomi Barber generated peculiar surreal illusions with colours, and clay obeyed him to sculpt like his progenitors from the ancient Ile Ife!” Apart from eulogising Barber for living with “full rewards for his resounding creativity,” he also describes him as “a revered creative general.” On his part, Sam Ovraiti, Nigeria’s famous colourist of the Auchi Polytechnic extraction, was full of lamentation: “Oh! Oh!! Pa Professor Abayomi Barber was truly a great man. He was an innovator par excellence. He will be really missed.”
Fashakin Michael, Secretary of the Lagos Chapter, Society of Nigerian Artists, likens Barber to the proverbial elephant that goes slumbering and permanently hugs gravity. He sees Barber as “the Michelangelo of this century” whose death hit the art community “at a time when all brushes, chisels and tjanting tools were put aside for the celebration of Christmas. In conclusion, he says, “Africa will miss this great art educator. Nigeria has indeed lost an illustrious son. Lagos arts scene will forever remember him.”
Also on the throes of lamentation is Aina Bernard, sculptor and retired lecturer from the Yaba College of Technology. In his words, “The great gentleman, painter and sculptor finally left us. He is a teacher of teachers.” As for Josy Ajiboye, Nigerian political and socio-cultural cartoonist and naturalistic painter of great repute, it is a pure revelation of a sustained relationship with the late artist. He says, “We spoke together last week on phone; and his wife, too. Abayomi Barber was a great Nigerian artist whose achievements forms an important part of the history of Contemporary Art in Nigeria. I am glad he died a happy man.”
Another sculptor, art administrator and immediate past Chairman of the Lagos SNA, Idowu Sonaiya expresses shock, but is quick to admit the reality. His eulogy affirms Barber’s greatness as a Nigerian artist. He says, “A great legend in Nigerian art has just transited to the great beyond. May his creative, gentle soul rest in peace. May God almighty uphold the legacies he left behind.”
Dr. Ephraim Ugochukwu majored in Sculpture at the University of Lagos. He was beneficiary of Barber’s resounding tutelage. He is the immediate past Head of Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State. He bares his thoughts, “I am one of the last set (1998) of students that Professor Barber took in his class before he retired that year. We were in the Department of Creative Arts (Visual Arts Unit) University of Lagos. I had always looked up to him as a mentor and a father. He was a fine gentleman. His philosophy was astonishing, especially that of life after death. His words of encouragement were like a soothing balm. I remember during our days in school, especially when he saw me doing my assignment in the sculpture studio, his words were, ‘Ephraim, make sure you concentrate, practice consistently. Money will come, then all other good things you need in life will follow.’ I held his words very dear to my heart and today I thank God for giving me the opportunity to encounter Professor Barber. He lives on because he imparted in his students to carry on his legacy.”
Brigadier General O. L. Olokor (Rtd.) holds a Ph.D in Painting from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. He is a consultant and senior research fellow at the Nigerian Army Museum, Asokoro, Abuja. He expresses his grief on Barber’s transition, “I heard about the demise of the legendary Abayomi Barber with so much pain. A great artist of high repute with much influence on the society, his influence on many contemporary artists all over is huge and still spreading like a wild fire. A realist painter who undertakes difficult task with much detail, his works were shown to us for study as young undergraduates in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the 80s. The art community and Nigeria will surely miss this great mind.”
“A creative soul never dies,” says Oladejo Akande, painter and scholar from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, “Abayomi Barber is largely known by his outstanding creativity. He is known through his art. May he visit this terrestrial one more time.” He is joined by Oladunni Adesiji who also holds that, “Barber’s combination of talents and skills gave way for his divine endowment to make the world better as he influenced all he met on his path.” As for Ayoola Ijisakin, “Barber’s naturalistic cum surrealistic styles were my inspiration as a budding artist in my secondary school days. He will be greatly missed by all Nigerian artists – home and abroad.”
Dr. Ademola Azeez, Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, is stricken with grief, “Whaoh! A creative genius and colossus has suddenly left us. We are shocked, but we are comforted by the fact that Pa Abayomi Barber left indelible marks on the sands of creative history. Myself and Professor Odiboh, at different times, wrote our Ph.D Theses on the Abayomi Barber School. Rest well, great one!”
Professor Abayomi Barber was born in 1928 and passed on in the afternoon of the Boxing Day, 2021. He is survived by wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, art disciples and the Nigerian art community as a whole.
