Day American arts collector asked if Obafemi Awolowo University is a bush college, by Moyo Okediji

The wealthy gentleman asked me, “You obtained your first degree in Nigeria?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Y’all have universities in Nigeria?”

“Yes,” I responded.

He chuckled. “Like a tree college or something?”

“Never heard of a tree college before. What does that mean?” I asked him, though I understood exactly what he was trying to imply.

“A tree college, or a bush college, it’s the same thing” he continued, smiling mischievously. “Y’all sit under a tree , with some sitting on treetop, and your professor stands in front of y’all, lecturing?”

He was a multi-millionaire serving on the board of directors of the museum where I was curator of African art for a decade at Denver.

He was a collector of African art, and he had an impressive array of works by Olowe, Bamidele, Arowoogun, Oosamuko and other notable Yoruba artists, including Lamidi Fakeye, in his house.

He had invited me to his mansion for a party where he was flaunting his African art collection to his friends.

My role at the party was to discuss these works, while his friends half-listened as they wined and dined on catered delicacies.

The party had gone far into the night, and I had discussed stylistic differences in Yoruba art to the audience of wealthy patrons gathered in his lavish home for the event.

It was the beginning of my second month at the museum as curator of African art.

After my brief talk, one of them walked up to me, wine glass in tow, and remarked, “You speak good English. Amazing.”

Another said, “Where did you study?” A small group formed around me.

“Both here in the US and Nigeria,” I responded. “Doctorate is from Madison, Wisconsin. First degree was in Nigeria….” I began to explain.

That was when my host interrupted and shifted the discussion to my alma matter in Nigeria as a “tree college.”

I paused, hoping he would move to another topic.

But he continued to push the “bush college” disparagement, apparently a little tipsy.

My number one rule as a curator at the museum: Never touch alcohol at any museum event or official party. Just drink just plain water.

I listened as the rich and powerful began to make jest of my alma mater, University of Ife, now the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

It became necessary to address their concern.

I knew my host was a graduate of the University of Denver.

He was about my age, but as wealthy as ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀. He inherited oil money from his parent’s mine field at Papua New Guinea.

“Sir,” I said, “you attended the University of Denver, right?”

“Yeah,” he answered with pride. “In the early to mid-seventies.”

“I attended the University of Ife at about the same time,” I informed him. “All the universities in the city of Denver, including University of Colorado, University of Denver, Regis, and Metropolitan State University—all of them could fit into what we call Road 1 of the University of Ife where I did my first degree.”
“Really?” he said, incredulous.

I continued: “Road 1 is the dual-carriage highway running from the gate of the university to the academic area. Road 1 flows for more than a mile. Once you enter the university gate, designed by the famous artist Agbo Folarin, you are on Road 1. At first, you see no building. All you see is a display of flowers and flamboyant trees for a stretch of one mile.”

At this point, everybody was paying attention.

I continued:

“Can you get that sort of panoramic treat at Harvard, Yale or UCLA? I doubt it. Have you seen the flamboyant tree before? It’s the most fire-spitting flowering tree you can imagine.”

I sipped on my water, and proceeded:
“Flamboyant trees form a mile-long welcome sentinel as you drive into the university campus. At the end of Road 1, you encounter the Oduduwa Hall, decorated with the largest sculpture by Lamidi Fakeye. You have a small piece by him in your collection, sir. The campus is about 75 square miles in size. Is that what you mean by a “tree college,” sir?”

Everyone was silent, listening. Guests began to fidget with their drinks.
I knew, at that moment, this curating job was not going to be easy for me.

I didn’t know I would do it for 10 years.

Picture shows the ODUDUWA sculpture by Lamidi Fakeye, placed on the ground floor of the Oduduwa Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Is this a bush college?

-Okediji is a Professor of Art History based in the US