The Asele Institute: Preserving and Nurturing African Art and Culture

Published 02 February 2023 in The Legacy

Uche Okeke Legacy Editorial

At the Asele Institute, we are dedicated to nurturing African art and culture and providing a platform for emerging African artists to showcase their talents. Founded by the late artist Uche Okeke in 1968, our institution is located in Enugu, Nigeria, and named after the Asele mask, which represents the spirit of the ancestors in traditional Igbo festivals. Okeke believed that African art had the potential to contribute to the global art scene, and he wanted to create a space where African artists could experiment and innovate.

Our mission is to promote and develop African art and culture through research, training, and exhibitions. We are committed to bridging the gap between traditional African art and contemporary art. Our goal is to create a new form of African art that is both modern and rooted in African traditions.

The Asele Institute has had a significant impact on the Nigerian and African art scene, and helped to promote the work of many emerging artists. It has also played a key role in preserving traditional African art forms, which are in danger of disappearing as a result of colonization and globalization.

We provide a space for artists to work and collaborate. Our workshops and exhibitions are held both in Nigeria and abroad, and we have published a journal, Uli, which focuses on African art and culture. Uli is named after the Uli art form, a type of traditional African body painting that uses geometric patterns and symbols.

The Asele Institute has had a significant impact on the Nigerian and African art scene. We have helped to promote the work of many emerging artists and played a key role in preserving traditional African art forms that were in danger of disappearing due to colonization and globalization. We are proud to have contributed to the development of contemporary African art and to have created a space where African artists can experiment and innovate.

Although Uche Okeke passed away in 2016, the Asele Institute continues to operate and promote African art and culture. Today, we are a leading institution in Nigeria's art scene and are recognized internationally for our contributions to contemporary African art. Our mission remains the same as when we were founded: to nurture and promote African art and culture, and to provide a platform for emerging African artists to showcase their talents.