Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE (1917-1994) was Africa's most influential 20th-century artist. Born in Onitsha, he studied at Goldsmiths College, London and the Slade School of Fine Art. Enwonwu's work bridged African and European art traditions, creating a distinctly Nigerian modernist style. His bronze sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II (1957) is displayed at Lagos House. His portrait "Tutu" (1974), depicting an Ibibio princess, became Africa's most valuable artwork when sold for $1.6 million in 2018. Enwonwu received numerous commissions including designing Nigeria's coat of arms and creating the "Anyanwu" sculpture (rising sun symbolizing Nigerian independence). His works are in museums worldwide. He mentored generations of Nigerian artists and proved that African art could command international respect while maintaining cultural authenticity.


PIONEER OF MODERN AFRICAN ART:
Ben Enwonwu fused classical training from London’s Slade School with Igbo aesthetics, creating sculptures and paintings that asserted African modernity. Works like The Flute Player and Africa Dances celebrated movement and dignity at a time when colonial narratives dismissed African creativity.

ARTISTIC DIPLOMACY:
In 1956 he was commissioned to sculpt Queen Elizabeth II during her royal visit—an assignment that subtly reversed colonial gazes by presenting the monarch through African hands. His bronze Anyanwu, installed at the National Museum in Lagos in 1958 and later at the United Nations headquarters, became a symbol of Nigeria’s independence and rising sun.

MENTORSHIP AND CULTURAL POLICY:
Appointed Nigeria’s first Federal Art Adviser, Enwonwu helped establish the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Benin and advised UNESCO on cultural heritage. He mentored artists such as Bruce Onobrakpeya and Yusuf Grillo, amplifying modernist movements across West Africa. He chaired exhibitions from Dakar to Washington, ensuring African artists occupied global stages.

ENDURING LEGACY:
The rediscovery and 2018 auction of his long-lost portrait Tutu for £1.2 million reignited interest in African art history. The Ben Enwonwu Foundation now archives his studio notes, conserves his work, and awards scholarships to young sculptors and painters. Museums worldwide—including the British Museum, Smithsonian, and National Gallery of Modern Art Lagos—display his pieces as pillars of African art.

FAST FACTS:
- Born 14 July 1917 in Onitsha; died 5 February 1994 in Lagos.
- Honours: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE, 1954), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
- Signature media: bronze sculptures, oil paintings, and watercolor landscapes featuring dancers and masquerades.
- Advocacy: championed restitution of African art objects and authored essays on cultural identity.