By Damiete Braide
Recentiy, a cross-section of Nigeria’s arts and culture community gathered at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos, to honour one of their own, Anthony Ogochukwu Okuyeme, fondly known as the “Journartist”, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Though the milestone had passed in October 2024, the atmosphere at Esther’s Revenge, one of the facilities within the Park, was anything but belated. It was a heartfelt reunion of creatives, colleagues, and family members, all drawn together by a shared love of the arts and deep respect for a man who has dedicated his life to telling their stories.
Okuyeme, an award-winning journalist, arts critic, and culture advocate, has spent over two decades shaping Nigeria’s cultural landscape. Born on October 4, 1964, in Umuebu, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, he began his professional journey in 1985 as a theatre actor with Komikas Playhouse at the National Theatre, Iganmu. Since then, his path has woven through theatre, radio, television, film, and journalism—earning him accolades such as the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) for Entertainment Reporter of the Year, twice.
The celebration drew key figures from the Nigerian arts and media sectors, including the doyen of arts journalism and former Deputy Editor of The Guardian, Ben Tomoloju; UNESCO-honoured documentarist and former Guardian on Sunday editor, Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo; Dr. Kabir Alabi Garba, Editor of Weekend Guardian and President of the Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN); Juliet Bumah, Editor of National Telegraph; and many other colleagues and friends.
Moderating the evening was journalist and writer Anote Ajeluorou, who opened the gathering with warm sentiments. “This is a celebration of our own brother and a dear colleague,” he said. “Tony Okuyeme has climbed a step higher in the hierarchy of living. Let us also celebrate ourselves for being here. It is a privilege.”
Dr. Garba, in his welcome address, reflected on the need for unity within the arts journalism community. He recalled the last time arts writers gathered in such camaraderie was years ago at the National Theatre. “It has been long since art writers celebrated themselves,” he remarked. “Today we are together again. Like the African proverb says, a people who hold meetings regularly are never afraid.”
Garba also called for a revival of ACWAN’s structure and relevance, noting the need for the organization to become more visible and organized. “We’ve covered this industry for most of our lives, and yet, there’s no prize in the arts category at the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence,” he said. “Let us think now and do something. The love of arts brought us together. Let it now move us forward.”
Jahman Anikulapo added an emotional tribute, describing Okuyeme as more than a colleague—he called him a creative sibling. “From the art writing fraternity, apart from Ben Tomoloju, the only person whose career is so closely tied to mine is Tony.”
The celebration also featured performances, including a poetry recital titled Son of a Journartist by Akeem Lasisi, a fellow journalist and poet. The room burst into applause as Lasisi’s lyrical tribute captured the celebrant’s dual identity as both artist and journalist.
When it was his turn to speak, Okuyeme was visibly moved. “To say I’m overwhelmed is an understatement,” he began. “There are times words fail to convey your emotions, and today is one of them.” He shared stories of his humble beginnings, his dream of joining the Nigerian Army, and the moment a war film changed his destiny, steering him toward theatre instead. “I didn’t have the heart to carry a gun and shoot people,” he confessed. “That’s how I ended up in theatre.”
Throughout his career, Okuyeme has contributed to major Nigerian newspapers including The Guardian, ThisDay, New Age, The Sun, Compass, and currently serves as Arts Editor of New Telegraph. His work spans over 50 stage plays and numerous radio and television productions including Tales By Moonlight, The Third Eye, Winds of Destiny, and Story Story by the BBC World Service Trust.
Friends and colleagues described him as resilient, joyful, and a quiet trailblazer. Theo Lawson wished him “healthy pockets” and long life, while Professor Patrick Oloko observed, “At 60, your vibrancy is such that you’ll have the misfortune of reaching 90. Unfortunately, here, we often don’t acknowledge how valuable our culture producers are.”
Ozolua Uhakheme called Okuyeme “a marathoner in the job of journalism,” commending his perseverance through difficult times.
In the end, the celebration was more than a birthday party. It was a reunion of creatives, a call to action for arts writers, and a well-deserved tribute to a man whose life work has spotlighted the beauty and struggles of Nigerian.
Photo caption; Tomy Okuyeme (2nd left) with family members at the event.