DELA Screening At UNN: More Photos
The DELA Campus Tour officially premieres at the esteemed University of Nigeria Nsukka. The screening and exhibition event was hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) in their modern new venue, which was packed with an enthusiastic audience eager to engage with the content, highlighting both interest and meaningful impact.
Photos by IAS-UNN: DELA SCREENING & UNN CAMPUS
More images of the DELA Campus Tour at the esteemed University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The screening and exhibition event was hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) in their modern new venue, which was packed with an enthusiastic audience.
Special Guest: The paramount traditional ruler H.R.H Igwe George ASADU, The Okpe Udo of Ihe Nsukka, who in 2015 conferred the title "Ikedire of Nsukka" (“power which is effective”) on Prof. EI Anatsui.
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui is a biographical documentary about one of the world's greatest sculptors. The Campus Tour aims to bring art and film students closer to the film's subject. It has so far, screened at Pan-Atlantic University Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). In Ghana, the tour will continue at the artist’s five alma mater institutions.
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The Hidden Stories Behind Old Nsukka Photographs with Chijoke Onuora
Discover the Hidden Stories Behind Old Photographs with Prof. Chijoke Onuora, speaking on his father Mr. Joshua Chukwuemeka Onuora - the official UNN photographer in the 60s and 70s.
Discover the Hidden Stories Behind Old Photographs with Prof. Chijioke Onuora, a professor of drawing and sculpture in the Fine and Industrial Arts Department, speaking on his father Mr. Joshua Chukwuemeka Onuora - the unofficial UNN photographer in the 60s and 70s.
DELA Campus Tour: University Of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
The DELA Campus Tour officially premieres at the esteemed University of Nigeria Nsukka. The screening and exhibition event was hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) in their modern new venue, which was packed with an enthusiastic audience eager to engage with the content, highlighting both interest and meaningful impact.
oyiza adaba
maurice E. Okereke
The DELA Campus Tour officially premiered at the esteemed University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The screening and exhibition event was hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) in their modern new venue, which was packed with an enthusiastic audience eager to engage with the content, highlighting both interest and meaningful impact.
Main Gate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka reading the institution’s motto “To Restore The Dignity Of Man”. Photo: Africa-Related.
To kick off the screening on April 29, 2025, Prof. Chijioke Onuora, a professor of drawing and sculpture in the Fine and Industrial Arts Department conducted an enlightening tour of the captivating photo exhibition that beautifully encapsulates the rich history and vibrant culture of the University of Nigeria.
The ground floor of the Institute of African Studies serves as a walk-in gallery of various artworks by both current and past students and teachers. Our guide was Prof. Chijoke Onuora, a former student of El Anatsui, and also the son of Mr. Joshua Chukwuemeka Onuorah, a pioneer student of Physical Health Education and the UNN unofficial photographer in the 60s and 70s. He showed us beautiful photos taken in the very early days of the university's existence, capturing various occasions such as the first graduation ceremony, and first set of female graduates etc.
Shortly afterwards, the screening began, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. A lot of students streamed in, as the special guest the paramount traditional ruler H.R.H Igwe George ASADU, The Okpe Udo of Ihe Nsukka occupied the front row seat. He, in 2015, conferred the title "Ikedire of Nsukka" (power which is effective) on Prof. EI Anatsui.
Also seated in the packed room were Prof. Krydz Ikwuemesi, Prof. Chidi Ugwu, Assoc. Prof. Greg Mbajiorgu and Assoc. Prof. Vincent Okpara H.O.D, Department of Fine and Industrial Arts. The audience was very receptive and attentive during the viewing, one could tell on account of their humorous and enthused responses. The event concluded with a short Q and A which yielded a few comments with much praise and plenty of thanks to the production team. The organizers were quite gracious, extremely polite and very courteous.
This happened to be the very first event since the inauguration of the new building of the Institute of African Studies, situated close to the UBA gate on campus. It also happened to be the first screening I am attending in person in Nigeria. DELA’s journey to Nsukka was extra special as it was a homecoming of sorts, not just for the film, but also for my ever-supportive husband Maurice Okereke (Words By MOE), a 1995 UNN alumnus, who worked on the film as an assistant music director - contributing original music scores from his poetic pieces, to the film’s soundtrack.
Oyiza Adaba with Nsukka DoP Michael ‘Lenix’ Onah, who filmed some of the Nsukka shots.
DELA: Soundtrack Poster with featured artists.
Other contributing artists include UNN Graduate, the late Bright Andrew Igho a.k.a B-Elect, a musician/author who contributed his track 'WAT THE OLD MAN SAID (B.I.B.L.E.)' to the film. Uchenna Ohagwu (Minista Busta), an IMT Enugu graduate is the visual/graphic artist/musician who designed the DELA icon head logo that depicts El Anatsui’s young and older face. Amarachi Attamah, a griot/chant performer composed a beautiful chant piece entitled 'EGARA EL', used in the opening sequence. Lemi Ghariokwu is the graphic artist who designed several of Fela Kuti's album covers and also designed the DELA 'walking man' logo. Two indigenous musicians DJ Robintonzz added the track 'AFRICA' Ft. New Prince, while Lake Spy composed the film's end credit track 'ASIGI II' in honour of El Anatsui.
The Institute of African Studies, UNN
Ozioma Onuzulike’s piece ‘Seed Yams of Our Land’ series drape the front entrance Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Nigeria Nsukka. Photo: Africa-Related
New Address: Front entrance Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka UNN..
Nsukka town is about eighty kilometers north of Enugu in South Eastern Nigeria, where the University campus sits on 871 hectares of hilly savannah with lush vegetation. The Institute of African Studies was established in 1963, initially as the Hansberry College of African Studies. It was named after Professor William Leo Hansberry, an eminent Afro-American Historian and Africanist, who served as its Director, and taught two African presidents - Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria and Ghana’s Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
According to A.E. Afigbo, the idea for a graduate Institute of African Studies in the University of Nigeria was channeled towards research and was designed as a rallying point for “all men of colour who can trace their descent to the African continent no matter in what part of the world they now find their habitation”. The institute’s current Director Prof. Ozioma Onuzulike has ably stepped into the big shoes left by past directors, such as Prof. Edward Wilmot Blyden III, Prof. Donatus I. Nwoga, Prof. Uche Okeke, Prof. Chike Aniakor and many others that followed.
El Anatusi’s sculptures on UNN campus
Prof. El Anatsui was a resident of Nsukka for forty-four years (1975-2020), and retired from teaching sculpture at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts in 2012. Two free-standing sculptures made of concrete with terrazzo finish titled For the Upliftment of Man (1983) and Ambivalent Hold (1983) were selected by the University, and can be found on the grounds of the Physical Sciences building. They were jointly sculpted by members of an art collective called SKEP.
Photos: DELA SCREENING & UNN CAMPUS
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui is a biographical documentary about one of the world's greatest sculptors. The Campus Tour aims to bring art and film students closer to the film's subject. It has so far, screened at Pan-Atlantic University Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). In Ghana, the tour will continue at the artist’s five alma mater institutions.
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El Anatsui Bags Traditional Title - IKEDIRE of Nsukka
On August 24, 2019, Emeritus Professor El Anatsui enjoyed an installation of a different kind. The traditional ruler of Ihe/Owerre Nsukka in Enugu State, Nigeria, Igwe George F. O. Asadu conferred a traditional title on the artistic icon and long-time resident of Nsukka (since 1975). In so doing, Prof El Anatsui was received into the Council of the Igwe and regarded as IKEDIRE.
Oyiza Adaba and Uche Onyishi
Photos: Elijah Okoro for Africa-Related
NSUKKA - NIGERIA
IKEDIRE of NSUKKA
Globally acclaimed sculptor and long-time Nsukka resident of 45 years, Ghanaian artist EL Anatsui is IKEDIRE of Nsukka. Photo by Africa-Related.
“power which is effective”
AUGUST 24, 2019
“Intimidating”
On August 24, 2019, Emeritus Professor El Anatsui enjoyed an installation of a different kind. The traditional ruler of Ihe/Owerre Nsukka in Enugu State, Nigeria, Igwe George F. O. Asadu conferred a traditional title on the artistic icon and long-time resident of Nsukka (since 1975). In so doing, Prof El Anatsui was received into the Council of the Igwe and regarded as IKEDIRE.
“Anyone that has remained happily in a place for 45 years is long overdue its citizenship.”
FULL REGALIA
Emeritus Professor El Anatsui - Ikedire of Nsukka with the traditional ruler of Ihe/Owerre Nsukka in Enugu State, Nigeria Igwe George F. O. Asadu.
The traditional title of 'Ikedire', meaning 'power which is effective' reflects Anatsui's commitment to his adopted community of Nsukka, a university town in the south-east where he taught at the University of Nigeria from 1975 until he retired in 2012. Although this native son of Ghana has enjoyed world wide acclaim through his art, he is also known for his humanitarian and community initiatives, which directly impacts lives.
‘Intimidating’, was the word used by Prof. Greg Mbajiogu, a lecturer in theatre and film studies to describe Anatsui’s citation. Above the accolades and speeches was one shared sentiment - “This is an honour overdue”. Fiends and colleagues who attended the simple ceremony at the Igwe's home; appreciate its depth and agree that Anatsui's contributions have in no small measure put Nsukka on the world map.
In Igwe Asadu’s words, ‘Anyone that has remained happily in a place for 45 years is long overdue its citizenship’.
For more info on El Anatsui, visit elanatsui.art . Watch El Anatsui’s biographical documentary here.
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
Photos by @africarelated
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Highlights of Anya Fụlụ Ugo 2015
An Interdisciplinary African Arts Conference in honour of El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu that took place at the Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. The maiden edition was held in honour of Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu.
By oyiza adaba - Africa-Related, Nigeria
Faculty of Arts Complex, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Photo: Africa-Related
anya fụlụ ugo jaa ya mma, na-adi afụ ugo kwa daa
- the eye that sees an eagle should adore it, for only rarely are eagles seen -
Video Courtesy of Africa-Related
Interdisciplinary African Arts Conference of the Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria in honour of El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu
Theme: African Art and Artists after the Millennial Turn
Venue: Princess Alexandria Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Date: 24-27 June 2015
This conference adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the discourse of the current state of art and artists in Africa and in the African Diaspora. It is our tribute to two important global artists associated with the Faculty of Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose work over the past four decades demonstrates the multiple layers of critical, historical, and other narrative contexts that African art engenders today. Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu are acclaimed for creating a respectable body of works that have grown to defy any marginal critical or historical narrative - a microcosm of the form and content of African art today.
The four-day even was attended by artists and educators from various countries including UK, Spain, The United States, Germany etc. The program was packed with activities such as breakout sessions, art exhibitions, guided tours etc.
The broad theme of the conference, “African Art and Artists after the Millennial Turn” proposes an interdisciplinary approach to the discourse of the current state of art and artists in Africa and in the African Diaspora. Under the banner “Anya Fulu Ugo”, this maiden edition was held in honour of Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu.