By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

Renowned as one of the talented artists putting Nigeria on the global art and entertainment stage, UK-based multifaceted visual artist, storyteller, and filmmaker, Favour Ben, recently participated in a group exhibition in the United Kingdom.

As a passionate visual artist specialising in works that explore African themes of identity and the human experience, Favour Ben, whose works have been exhibited in numerous galleries, attracting international recognition for its depth and beauty, engages audiences through emotionally evocative pieces.

Held November 14 and 15, 2024 at the Casild Art gallery, the exhibition titled ‘Spectrum’ was curated by Babajide Shittu. The art show featuring works by Favour Ben and seven other artists, afforded art collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to appreciate recent works by the artists.

Favour Ben’s mastery in evocative and culturally rich artworks is evident in two art pieces showcased in ‘Spectrum’ — ‘Ayoka’ and ‘Heritage’ which were selected from two different collections — “Shuku stories: the journey of Heritage and Beauty” and “Affairs of Awuru”.

Through these collections, Ben explores themes of spirituality, identity and cultural heritage, with symbolic elements like jewelleries and flowers. Her artistic journey has been deeply personal and reflective of her heritage, with her unique approach to storytelling through hair art capturing the essence of the individual’s identity, strength, and spirituality.

Employing photography as a medium, Ayoka was inspired by the artist’s love for telling the unique story of cowries (owoeyo) beyond a fashion item. Shuku Stories: The Journey of Heritage and Beauty, showcases the intricate beauty of Owoeyo, not just as a fashion statement but as a piece embedded with spiritual elements.

“I wanted to tell its story as an item of femininity, spirituality and identity. We often focus on people’s faces to judge their beauty standard, however the back of every human carries more than we see; it holds the head, spinal cord and tells the story of the pain we carry. I connected all these dots to the hair which is a symbol of beauty, to tell the story of cowries beyond a piece of fashion item but an identification of personality,” Favour says.

Another important collection, ‘Affairs of Awuru’, digs into the insightful symbolism of hair in Yoruba culture with focus on ‘Dada’– natural dreadlocks. “Affairs of Awuru” showcases the spiritual essence of Dada, also known as Awuru in Africa and the Caribbean. This series emphasises on the spiritual over the fashionable, inviting viewers to appreciate the profound cultural significance of this traditional hairstyle.

As the artist says, “’Dada’ in the Nigerian context refers to a unique cultural and spiritual phenomenon associated with children born with naturally matted or dreadlocked hair. These children, known as “Dada”, hold significant cultural and spiritual importance in various Nigerian communities.”

Dada children are often regarded as totems. In many Nigerian cultures, their birth is considered a blessing, and they are believed to possess special spiritual powers or protection.

The hair of Dada children is usually left uncut and untreated, following specific cultural traditions. It is believed that cutting their hair breaks their connection with the spiritual world and brings bad luck. In some communities, special rituals and ceremonies are performed to honour and protect Dada children.

“Historically, Dada children were sometimes seen as oracles or spiritual guides often consulted for their perceived wisdom and insight. From a scientific perspective, the occurrence of matted hair can be due to various genetic factors. Understanding this helps demystify the phenomenon while still respecting its cultural importance. Dada children often appear in Nigerian art, literature, and folklore, symbolising purity, uniqueness, and a connection to the spiritual and natural world. They are depicted in various media to convey messages about identity, spirituality, and cultural pride.”

Favour Ben, a 2023 Cool Wealth Award winner, has participated in several group exhibitions including International Photography Exhibition: Identity, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK; Holy Art Gallery – Identity Exhibition; Diverse Perspective Exhibition – Lagos, Nigeria; Matayo Gallery UK – Serenity Exhibition (online exhibition); Our Heritage Uk – The Artistic Pulse of the Diaspora; Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Center, Ikoyi; Spectrum Group Exhibition at Casild Art Gallery, all held this 2024, etc.

As Favour Ben continues to evolve her artistic journey, her works are set to be showcased in various galleries worldwide. The artist’s overarching goal remains to celebrate African culture and beauty through her art, offering a rich, visual narrative that honours and redefines traditional African aesthetics.

Writing about the ‘Spectrum’ exhibition, the curator, Babajide Shittu, said the works showcase the creativity and talent of Nigerian artists, who among others explore heritage, spirituality, and human connection through their unique art forms.

Artworks are capable of different interpretations, and Favour Ben’s works under review have been interpreted in different ways by different viewers. For this reviewer, the artist explored two major phenomena in the works. One is an object (the cowrie); the other is elevation (the back view, or rear elevation, of a woman).

On the object, the cowrie, among other symbols and values, for centuries in West Africa, cowries served as a form of currency, and therefore symbolised, and in African arts today, still symbolises wealth, power and prestige. Favour Ben’s ‘Ayoka’ from her collection, “Shuku stories: Journey of beauty and heritage” radiates wealth, power and prestige.

For elevation, in which Favour Ben explores the back view, or rear elevation of a woman, the audience, especially the men folk, is brought into the full consciousness of something they already know but lack concrete words to express – that the beauty of a woman encompasses her back view, or rear elevation.

These two important phenomena explored by the artist will in no small measures contribute to the establishment of Favour Ben as a master in her profession as an artist.