Missing Nigerian painting found in a flat; to be auctioned for ₦150million

Ben Enweonu’s 1974 painting has been missing for 44 years before being found in a London flat recently.

Significance of the Art

When Ben Enweonu created three paintings Ife princess, Adetutu Ademiluyi in 1974, one of the images quickly became a symbol of the national reconciliation and reunification, given that the Nigerian-Biafran war had just ended at the time.

However, the piece, popularly called Tutu, disappeared inexplicably before resurfacing now in London. The other two are yet unfound.

Lost but found

Tutu has been discovered by Giles Peppiatt, the director of modern African art at the auction house Bonhams in London.

The art expert gets a copy of Tutu once every eight weeks from hopefuls who wonder if theirs is the long lost original. Late in 2017, however, a North London family asked him to come check a painting of Enweonu in their possession and it actually turns out to be the real deal!

He estimated he gets sent a Tutu every eight weeks and it invariably turns out to be a print.

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But late last year, a North London family approached him asking him to come and see a painting they said was by Enwonwu.

“Sometimes you go somewhere on a wing and a prayer, you don’t know what you are going to see ... this was an enormous surprise… I thought: ‘Oh my god, this is extraordinary.’”

The family have asked to remain anonymous.

Ben Okri, a leading Nigerian poet and novelist says of the piece that:

“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.”

Potential record sale

The painting will be sold at Bonhams in London February 28, 2018 but such is the anticipated interest that the sale will also be broadcast live to bidders in Lagos.

Tutu is expected to sell for between 100million and 150million [£200,000 and £300,000.]

If it goes over the upper limit it will set a new record for a modern Nigerian artist.

The other two paintings of Princess Tutu remain unaccounted for.