Ben Enwonwu

Bonhams, Africa Now, London, 4 Oct 2018, lot 59

Private Collection, Nigeria

During his time studying in London in the 1940s, Enwonwu first embarked on his Africa Dances series, in reaction to Geoffrey Gorer’s 1935 book of the same name. The book critiques colonial rule and its impact on traditional life in Africa. In the Africa Dances series, Enwonwu illustrates his own views on the state of modern Nigerian culture at the time, using symbolic imagery in scenes of dance, and ritual performance from his Onitsha-Igbo heritage. Enwonwu revisited the theme throughout his career, exploring a range of dance forms, from masquerade and traditional ceremonies, to modern dance and performance.