The Rise Of Nigeria's Art Market: Ben Enwonwu’s Tutu Painting Sells For $1.6 Million

Ben Enwonmu's Tutu

On 28th of Feburary 2018 history was made in the Nigerian arts market, 
Ben Enwonwu's 1974 painting of an Ile-Ife princess Adetutu Ademiluyi, often dubbed Africa's Monalisa, sold for a whopping $1.6 million dollars, making it the highest price so far fetched by a Nigerian Artist for a painting.

The lost and found Tutu

There is an interesting story about the discovery of Tutu, It was painted shortly after Nigeria's civil war, and thus was regarded as Nigeria's symbol of reconciliation.
There were infact three paintings of Tutu, and they all went missing.
Since then the search has been launched to find the paintings. During this period many have come forward with many Tutus but it all turned out to be just a print and not the original.
This went on for years, until a humble family in North London brought forward a certain painting they found in their apartment to Giles Peppiatt, the modern African art director at the auction house Bonhams.
Giles was skeptical at first because many a Tutu, have been sent to him,he estimated being sent a counterfeit Tutu every 8 weeks, but he nonetheless went to appraise it.
And lo and behold it was the magnificent and authentic Tutu! 
The Art world received these news with great excitement, and it was auctioned off for a record breaking $1.6 million!
source:Luxafrique.net

Renown novelist, Ben Okri Sums Up The Discovery

The Nigerian novelist Ben Okri commented on the discovery to be “the most significant discovery in contemporary African art in over 50 years. It is the only authentic Tutu, the equivalent of some rare archaeological find. It is a cause for celebration, a potentially transforming moment in the world of art.”

Conclusion
Its no doubt that the late Ben Enwonmu was an art genius, and is duly regarded as the father of Nigerian Modernism. We do hope to see many other Nigerian Art works rise to international renown such as this.

Although only one of Tutu's paintings was found, the art world is still hopeful the remaining two versions would be found.