By Adesoji Adesugba
Olu Ajayi’s passing in the early hours of May 23, 2025, has left a deep void in Nigeria’s artistic and intellectual landscape.
Olu was not just a painter; he was a seer with a brush, a philosopher in pigment, and a national conscience who used canvas as his pulpit.
Born in the scenic hills of Ososo in Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State, Olu’s artistic journey was long and distinguished.
With roots planted firmly in Nigerian realism and experimentalism traditions, he evolved into one of the most respected visual artists of his generation.
His works graced galleries in Nigeria and across the globe—in South Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States—each bearing witness to his mastery of colour, form, and emotional depth.
His most enduring artistic legacy is his deep connection with Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
No other artist has captured Soyinka in as many moods, moments, and meanings as Olu did. Through his celebrated “Living Legends” series, which began in 2008, Olu sought to immortalise national icons—Soyinka chief among them visually.
These portraits weren’t mere likenesses but layered tributes, breathing with history, protest, and reverence. For this, Olu became widely recognised as Soyinka’s visual chronicler.
He was also a man of profound intellect. Our paths often crossed in the mid-1990s when he would arrive at my home or my Remilekun Street office armed with a painting he was sure I couldn’t resist.
He was almost always right. His lines spoke truth. His strokes summoned rebirth. Olu’s visits were never just about art—they were about ideas.
Every session ended in long, probing conversations about Nigeria, justice, politics, and the future. His brilliance shone just as brightly in these conversations as it did on the canvas.
A loyal friend, Olu was forthright, unpretentious, and passionate. He was an ardent member of the Pyrates Confraternity and an unwavering advocate for its ideals.
When the idea of documenting the Confraternity through film came up, especially an interview with Cap’n Blood, Olu was my immediate and obvious choice.
Sadly, the project never came to fruition before he took ill. In December 2024, just weeks before we were to begin, he suffered a stroke that he would never recover from.
At the time, he was on the cusp of defending his PhD in Fine Art at the University of Benin—a goal that reflected his restless desire to grow, contribute, and master his craft even further.
Throughout his illness, his beloved wife, Priscilla, stood by him with the strength and grace that only true love can summon.
To her and his children, I offer my deepest condolences. May you find comfort in the pride of his legacy and in knowing that Olu lived a life that mattered.
Nigeria has lost a cultural titan, the world has lost a rare talent, and I have lost a brother.
“Rest in peace, Olu Ajayi—the great artist from Ososo.”
You saw deeply. You painted truly. You spoke fearlessly. And now, you sail into immortality.
*Prof Adesoji Adesugba was a former Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA)
