Postcolonial Modernism: Art and Decolonization in Twentieth-Century Nigeria

Okeke-Agulu's Postcolonial Modernism: Art and Decolonization in Twentieth-Century Nigeria sheds new light on various aspects of Nigerian colonial and postcolonial modernism. Made up of an introduction with seven chapters, his narrative covers events leading to the postcolonial epoch, which took place during the independence decade, 1957-1967. The introduction establishes the historical background required to appreciate the book, making it accessible to readers who are unfamiliar with the history of modern art in Nigeria. In this introduction Okeke-Agulu establishes the book's framework, stating that a historical perspective on modern and contemporary African art of the twentieth century and after must also involve scrutinizing the political and cultural activities that lifted modern art from the sidelines of cultural practice and discourse to the core of debates about African subjectivity and cultural identity after independence. Previous studies come short in length and scope and do not furnish the reader with a rich historical...