‘Sammy Olagbaju chose his art with his heart’

There has been an outpour of tributes and accolades for the late visual arts promoter, Sammy Olagbaju who died last week aged, 75. Popularly referred to as “Uncle Sam,” Olagbaju was one of Nigeria’s biggest art collectors and promoters. Olagbaju raising the visual arts bar Director-General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mr. Abdullahi […]

There has been an outpour of tributes and accolades for the late visual arts promoter, Sammy Olagbaju who died last week aged, 75.
Popularly referred to as “Uncle Sam,” Olagbaju was one of Nigeria’s biggest art collectors and promoters.
Olagbaju raising the visual arts bar
Director-General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mr. Abdullahi Muku, who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday about the late Olagbaju, said the art community has lost a giant in the industry.
Speaking about the contributions of Olagbaju who also served as chairperson of the art fair ‘ArtExpo Lagos,’ organised by the NGA, Muku said: “Olagbaju was one of the major art collectors in the country and was very diligent in his promotion of art in Nigeria.
“He will be truly missed especially in this time when we are trying to raise the bar for visual arts as part of ways to diversify the economy and people like him were already doing things in that regard. My prayer is that others will continue to invest in the promotion of visual arts and carry on from where he stopped,” the DG said.
Uncle Sam, our support, our pillar
Veteran artist and close associate of the late visual arts enthusiast, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo, spoke of his relationship with Olagbaju which spanned about four decades.
He said: “Uncle Sam encouraged a lot of artists and was really good to us. I met him about 40 years ago in the mid-70s as a result of my art. He had a bosom friend, Babs William with whom he would visit my studio. If for any reason one person couldn’t be at an exhibition the other would purchase an art piece for them both. Unfortunately Babs dies in 1982 at 39.”
Oshinowo also said: “Uncle Sam, when he wanted an art piece would come quietly to take what he wanted. Not only was he prompt with his payment but he also was immensely grateful for the works. He would say ‘thank you for the opportunity; for letting me have this work.’ It is hard to find another like him.”
President of the Abuja Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Mr. Tochukwu Okide described the late Olagbaju as a towering figure in the arts.
Okide said: “He wasn’t just viewed as an art collector by artists. He was to many a father and pillar of support.
“Mr. Olagbaju brought the wealth of experience gained in the corporate world to support the growth and development of Nigerian contemporary art. He guided young artists through the tumultuous waters of Nigeria’s art practice and built the careers of many artists.”
He also said: “Through funding from the Olagbaju Foundation and high patronage, he became one of the rallying points for artists and art in Nigeria. As he passes on to glory, the absence of the Iroko will surely be felt among the art community. May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace.”
A friendly competitor and fellow musketeer
“For the past 15 to 20 years the media has described us as the three musketeers made up of Chief Rashid Badamosi, Uncle Sam Olagbaju and I. We were friendly co-collectors and competitors in the art world,” said Engr. Yemisi Shyllon.
For co- art collector, Engr. Shyllon the news of Olagbaju’s demise was a blow.
“Uncle Sam was a perfect gentleman. In the time I knew him, I never heard him say anything in annoyance. He was very detribalised and accommodating. We met at international art fairs and also served on a panel at the Joburg  Art Fair where we spoke to the audience about African art.
“Uncle Sam spent a lot of his time with the arts and began collecting from his days at Trinity College, Dublin. He told me he used to buy copies of works of artists as a student.
Shyllon said: “At art previews if he were there before us, by the time we arrived, we’d find that he had tagged the best works and we’d laugh over it. He chose his art, with his heart. He knew what he wanted and set out to get it.
“After I received the news, I visited his house and reminisced about our lives together collecting art as I looked at the works hanging on the walls around the house. In the end it’s what we contribute to humanity that matters. Not what we acquire. Uncle Sam made his mark in his chosen profession and in the arts. Young and old artists advertised their wares to him and he accommodated them.
“I will miss him a lot. That’s one musketeer gone.”
Mr. Olagbaju began the Visual Arts Society of Nigeria (VASON) and will be remembered for is immeasurable contributions to the growth of visual arts in Nigeria.