By Henry Akubuiro
Coronated in 1870, history documents King Jaja as the first king of Opobo in present-day Rivers State of Nigeria. Legendary for his resisting colonialism and barring African and European middlemen from the palm oil trade with Britain, he infuriated the British by insisting on taxing their traders in Opobo, which made them to lure him to Britain for negotiation in 1887, where they arrested him aboard a British vessel, tried him in Accra and banished him to London and West Indies. When, however, he was granted permission to return home, he died on the way. But King Jaja left behind a legacy of assertive leadership and a robust vision for communal prosperity. His perceived braggadocio only underscores a non-conformist attitude against British imperialism.
From Saturday, January 18, to February 1, 2025, the marvel of King Jaja and Opobo’s historical and cultural significance will resonate among the cognoscenti of art as Alexis Galleries, located at 282, Akin Olugbade Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, presents “King Jaja”, a solo exhibition by a fast rising Nigerian artist, Ibim Cookey, whose practice delves into the intersections of art, architecture and cultural commentary.
Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, Founder and Director of Alex Galleries, said the exhibition was the first of its kind to explore in depth the life and times of King Jaja of Opobo of the Niger Delta, which had been neglected as a subject of artist enquiry.
“Our latest exhibition examines King Jaja’s rise from slave to king and a hero, capturing key moments in his life and legacy. Using his talents as a skilled craftsman and his great flair for rich, lush and floral compositions, Cookey’s paintings are an important addition to recent cultural discourse and renewed interest in portraiture, the importance of representation and visibility politics,” she said.
Sabon Kpade, in his curatorial statement, said Cookey “is known for his hyperrealist drawings and lush, verdant compositions;” hence: “This new body of work features lush, lively colours – from bright teals and blacks to luminous yellows, whites and luxuriant greens – where Cookey’s painterly approach reimagines King Jaja’s reign, downfall and legacy in a singular fashion.”
Cookey is exhibiting 11 artworks at Alexis Galleries. These include “King Jaja’s Throne”, “King Jaja’s Bell”, “Uru”, “Jaja is Lost”, “The Waterside Economy”, ‘The Deposed Jaja”, “Boat Regatta”, “Mr Ozurumba”, “The King’s Story Board”, “The Civil War”, and “The New Order”. All these works are woven with defining historical moments and nostalgic recollections.
At the exhibition preview midweek, the artist told Daily Sun: “It is an exhibition that is inspired by my own history, culture and identity as an Opobo man. I feel that this is the history of my people that has either been told or mistold by Westerners, and it is time to correct that history and expose it to the world.”
The exhibited works are rendered with a variety of media. For instance, “The Deposed Jaja” is done with charcoal on paper, and “The King’s Storyboard” with ink, coffee and paper. “Boat Regatta” is created with charcoal and paper. “The Deposed King Jaja’”, said the artist, reflects when the Opobian was banished by the British and his crown taken from him and given to one of his chiefs, while the vibrant flowers in the painting depict an honour for the king’s legacy.
On top of the painting is a silhouette of a chess king, which, according to Cookey, justifies the fact that, although he was removed as the king, he still understood the fact that he was still the ruler of his people and was still playing the political game to restore his throne. “Also, his suit represents the fact that, when you are in Rome, you behave like a Roman, especially when he was in the West Indies, because of the cold weather. The golden ornaments in the work justifies his riches and he was a successful king of his time.”
“Jaja is Lost” depicts a menacing looking African with two swords over a captive on bended knees looking forlorn. The artist uses it to depict the capture of Jaja, originally from Amaigbo in present-day Imo State, by suspected subalterns of the defunct Aro Confederacy. The artist recalled that Jaja was picked up on his way to the farm in Nkwerre, where his dad had sent him to live with his uncle for being a stubborn child. In the work, the artist works the map of Imo State and also the location of Arochukwu into the painting (which looks like cracks on the floor) to tell a haunting story.
With “Japa” culture gaining prominence across Nigeria, the artist said he had taken it upon himself to document our history to the present generation before they leave the country and disconnect with their Nigerian heritage. The artist has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Nsukka. The exhibition is sponsored by News Central, Art Caffe by Alexis Galleries, Macallan, Mikano, Coca Cola, Tiger, Africa Blanson Global, Haier Thermocool, Shordinho, Digi Millennials, Schweppes, Champ, and The Guardian.