In Lagos, Nigeria, the country’s prominent cartoonists and caricaturists gathered for a special celebration: the birthday of artist and professor Dele Jegede, a historic figure in Nigerian graphic satire, who turned 80 last April. The event, organized in June by the Cartoonists Association of Nigeria, took the form of a week-long group exhibition at the Didi Museum, featuring a wealth of graphic works, satirical cartoons, and political caricatures.
Almost all the heads of the cartoon sections of Nigeria’s most important newspapers were present, creating a lively meeting rich in exchanges. The exhibited works tackled the problems of Nigerian society with irony and a critical spirit, often pointing fingers at political leaders. Many caricatures, with an affectionate yet sharp tone, depicted Jegede himself, who is considered a pioneer and master by most of those present.
Among the prominent participants were Albert Ohams from “The Sun,” Mike Asukwo from “Business Day,” known for his incisive political satire, Dada Adekola from “Vanguard” (also the association’s president), and other well-known cartoonists such as Chino Obasi, Leke Moses, Adebayo Adegbenro, Chuks Onwudinjo, Jimoh Samsideen, and Morak Oguntade. Each brought their own critical vision of society to the exhibition, creating a diverse show dense with messages and irony.
The opening of the exhibition was graced by the presence of three great masters of Nigerian art: Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kunle Filani, and Kolade Oshinowo, who wished to pay homage to Jegede with their participation, highlighting the significance of the event in terms of artistic prestige.
The gathering was much more than a simple celebration: it was a collective moment where satirical art became a shared language and a critical mirror of the present, blending memory, affection, and biting irony.
