Why We Collect African Art – Nigerian Collectors

Nigerian art collectors recently spoke out in a CNN Africa Avant-Garde programme on why they collect art.

Titled The Joys and Pains of Collecting African Art, it featured Nigerian singer and songwriter, Mr Eazi, Art X founder, Tokini Peterside, art lovers and collectors, Kayode Adegbola and Femi Akinsaya speak of their enchantment with art, and how it led to their collecting African Art.

Mr Eazi’s connection with art started with the discovery of the similarities between the discovery and creating of opportunities for visual artists to thrive, to that of a music artiste. That, in addition to the knowledge that “art represents freedom. The freedom young Africans have to express themselves through art without judgement. That is why I collect,” he said.

Peterside, began collecting art at age 20, not with the intention of building a collection but with joy, and feeling. It was those feelings that led to her creation of Art X Lagos, the largest African Art Fair in West Africa.

Akinsaya’s evolution to collecting stems from his affinity for the beautiful, crafty pieces often brought into his office for sale. This led to his attraction to “objects of creativity or anything that can hold its value overtime.” Today, he pursues the collection of Classical African Art more than contemporary art –racking up to 1700 Afrocentric pieces.

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When Adegboya’s lost his savings from a modest pay at a law firm, in the stock market, he angrily liquidated what was left and used that to buy art. Fortuitously, he had a friend who owns a gallery who acquainted him with the goings on of the art world, thence, a love for the arts.

For the four collectors, the role of collector which is firstly, patronage, is the key to the sales and opportunities of the creation of more works by artists.

“Patronage is what develops the art ecosystem for a long time, allows legacies to be built, and for many eyes to see this beautiful thing,” said Adegbola.