On Tuesday, April 10, 2012, Dr. Ebenezer Aiku
Sheba, who was one of the strong pillars of scholarship at the Department of
Fine and Applied Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State,
clocked 70.
An
artist, teacher and mentor, he was keen on a low-keyed celebration, but his
many 'children' ensured that it was elaborate. The celebration unfolded in
phases including a life study of his image by Nigerian artists including
Ebenezer Akinola, Kazeem Olojo, Sehinde Ademuleya, Jonathan Imafidor, Dotun
Popoola and a host of others.
One of the activities, which the Department of Fine and Applied Arts was
planning, with the support of the National Gallery of Art, was a commemorative
lecture to be delivered by Dr. Kunle Filani in honour of Sheba at 70. In fact,
the guest lecturer had submitted a copy of his paper while other professional
colleagues and associates of Dr. Sheba had also submitted documented eulogies
on exemplary professional, academic and private lifestyle of the
artist-scholar.
Dr. Sheba, on the other hand, had planned to travel on pilgrimage to
Jerusalem, thus compelling the organisers to withhold the event until his
return.
Sadly, on Sunday, May 27, 2012, the news of his sudden death was broken
by one of his children, Banjo Sheba, who is also a trained and practising
artist, and coordinator of the popular annual art fiesta called Beautiful
Nigeria. Dr. Sheba was operated upon at the Iyiola Medical Centre, Oranfe
Street, Ile-Ife because of a kidney problem. Unfortunately, he didn't survive
the surgery, and later breathed his last at the OAU Teaching Hospital!
 |
| Dr Ebenezer Aiku Sheba |
Kunle
Filani (Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan)
EBEN Aiku Sheba is a creative personality that
derives inspiration from his Yoruba culture. Born in Ode-Irele in Ondo State,
he articulated the creative symbolism of visual and verbal aesthetics that
emanated from Ilaje/Okitipupa and translated them into contemporary offerings
in both his writings and artworks.
A
poet, philosopher, scholar and artist, Sheba adapted the creative memories
inherent in Yoruba forms, myths and motifs to create new body of works peculiar
to his genius. He gave his life of selfless service to the teaching profession.
He trained many students to become professional artists and with his continuing
research into visual and verbal aesthetics, he has enriched the page of history
with his articulately documented findings.
Abdullahi
Muku (Director General, National Gallery of Art)
DR. Sheba is a father of many children. The
National Gallery is aware of his trademark, smack of providing a guiding light,
not only to his many students, but anyone that had the great opportunity of
encountering him. His scholarly gestures, mentoring capabilities and practice
ability will forever place him on a pedestal of good memorials. For a scholar
that has contributed over 50 years of his life to teaching, discovering new
talents and nurturing them, his adulations will live forever. We will always
remember that Dr. Sheba was a silent achiever.
Akin
Adejuwon (chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists - Osun State Chapter)
A few things stand Eben Sheba out like the star
in the firmament: diligence, thoroughness and punctuality. Sadly, in this age
of fast foods and pay-as-you-go syndrome, these are rare characteristics,
indeed. This is a man who raises penetrating questions about issues wherever he
is involved, and once he attains a level of conviction, he commits himself to
the cause with passion. He has displayed this in an unwavering manner where
Fine Art is concerned. His sure passion for Fine Arts did not stop there, but
propelled him to be an arrowhead in the move to start the Osun State Chapter of
the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
David
Olajide Makinde (Acting Head, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, OAU,
Ile-Ife)
DR. Ebenezer Sheba has taught so many students
at the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti and Obafemi Awolowo University
including me. He taught virtually all the members of staff of the Department of
Fine and Applied Arts except Dr. B.A. Ademuleya. He was the 8th H.O.D in the
department for two years (2003-2005).
During his tenure, the department celebrated its 30th anniversary to
mark its establishment in 1975. The landmark achievement was accompanied with a
travelling exhibition of works by the Ife Art School graduates, and was on
display at Ife and Lagos respectively. Dr. Sheba was the first M.F.A graduate
in Graphic Design in the department.
In
spite of his academic commitment, his contributions to culture and creativity
are immensely appreciated. As a researcher, his focus was on Cultural
Symbolism, which allowed him to make an in-depth study of Yoruba physical and
social environment. He had discussed extensively on issues of traditional
Yoruba belief system and most especially the use of coded messages (aale) among the Ikale Yoruba of Ondo
State.
Akin
Onipede (Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization - CBAAC)
Ripples of the trend of group formation which
had earlier yielded Ona and AKA groups of artists (1987 and 1989
respectively) reverberated in Ikere-Ekiti with the formation of the Atunda group of artists in 1991, under
the chairmanship of Ebenezer Aiku Sheba. He and Segun Adejemilua were the
moving spirit behind the Atunda group.
For anyone who has been privileged to come across Dr. Sheba, his
philosophical depth and wisdom cannot but confound you. Older than many of his Atunda colleagues by far, yet Dr. Sheba
was at home with our exuberance.
Sehinde
Ademuleya (former Head, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, OAU, Ile-Ife)
THE Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Ebenezer Aiku Sheba was a man
of many parts and perceived in different ways. At Ile-Ife and to some of his
friends, he is Baba Sheba. To his old (I mean long-time) associates, he is
‘Lord Sheba’. To some of his senior colleagues who are not so familiar with him
(apart from Prof. Fabayo, who is fond of calling anybody and everybody,
including Alagba Sheba ‘aburo’), he
is Oga Sheba.
No
matter the perspective from which he is perceived, Baba Sheba was generally
acknowledged as an honourable man. He was, indeed, a complete gentleman and was
held as such and with great respect, too. I found in him a man of courage and
great destiny.
Olusegun
Ajiboye (Department of Fine and Applied Arts, OAU, Ile-Ife)
LORD Sheba, as he is fondly called by some
of his contemporaries, especially Prof. P.S.O Aremu, carried his fatherly
nature to the classroom. He would advise, preach and never lose his grip of
discipline on the students. He would teach you etiquette when you give a
seminar and would read your paper first from the back to check your references
and then through the whole work, taking note of all the spelling mistakes,
punctuations and sentences that are too long or incomplete.
Only God can save you from the raging anger of “Lord Sheba” if you
misspelt Frank Willett’s name. Once, Lord Sheba unleashed his anger on a
presenter, “I cannot understand how a student at your level can be missing the
spelling of a leading writer in art history whose book you have been reading
and reviewing for years… Tell me, what do you teach your students?”
Jonathan
Imafidor (Assistant Secretary, Araism Movement)
DR. Sheba takes you through history as though it
is just unfolding before your very presence. If you fail his course, you can
never pass any other! This is not as a result of his largesse in awarding
marks, but a product of his well-anchored classes. This is not the only way he
displays his service to mankind; he goes as far as servicing souls.
Of
what greater benefit can a man be to his fellow man? He gives you the physical
and spiritual satisfaction. His unparalleled love for mankind cannot be equaled
to any. Little wonder he looks much younger than his age, which conform to the
words of A.W. Pinero: “Those who love deeply never grow old”.
Stephen
Folaranmi (Department of Fine and Applied Arts, OAU, Ile-Ife)
THE history of Osun State Chapter of SNA cannot
be complete without the adequate mention and roles of Lord Sheba from
inception. I particularly remember that it was during a staff meeting at the
Department of Fine Arts that Sheba mentioned how important it was for us to
start the chapter. Before then, many of us who were registered members of the
society had to register in Lagos.
By
2002, the chapter was inaugurated and elections were held. Dr. Sheba then
became the first chairman of the chapter, an office he occupied till 2006 when
new elections were held. It was during his time that the SNA had to fight for
the reinstatement of sacked arts teachers in Osun State by the then Governor
Bisi Akande. As the PRO of the chapter, Dr. Sheba simply made me work, not only
by words, but by example.
Compiled by
Mufu Onifade.
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