By Prisca Sam-Duru
A celebration of phrases, visuals, and the enduring legacy of a media titan, Uncle Sam Amuka unfolds right this moment, December 16, 2025, because the inaugural Uncle Sam Amuka (USA) Artwork Exhibition opens on the Alexis Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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Headlining the landmark occasion is the famend Nigerian-American painter, artwork historian, cartoonist, curator, artwork critic, artwork administrator, and instructor, Professor dele jegede.
The exhibition, titled USA, is, an acronym for the nonagenarian journalist, satirist, and newspaper writer often known as “Uncle Sam Amuka”.
In accordance with Prof. jegede, “a abstract disclaimer known as for at this juncture: USA- the title of this exhibition, has nothing to do with a rustic that goes by that acronym.
Nevertheless, Somewhat, by way of sheer act of serendipity, it grew to become a predestined, attractive moniker for Uncle Sam Amuka, the eponymous Grand Patron of this Artwork Exhibition.”
A Uncommon Breed of Nonagenarians
In his tribute to Mr. Amuka, Prof Jegede says he’s amongst a uncommon and distinguished cohort of Nigerian nonagenarians blessed with discernment.
“Uncle Sam has earned his stripes, and richly so,” jegede states. “In my estimation of Nigerians of ethical probity, ascetic and disciplined disposition, and purposeful dwelling, he ranks amongst such greats as Jose, Jakande, Solarin, (Chief Simeon) Adebo, Mbanefo, (Aminu) Kano, and (Akinola) Aguda.”
jegede locations Amuka in the identical class as different distinguished inventive spirits and nation builders, together with Afe Babalola, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, and Wole Soyinka. He describes the co-founder of The Punch and founding father of Vanguard as “the youngest 90-year-old inductee into this membership of preeminence.”
“All of this represents a brief introduction to the youngest 90-year-old inductee into this membership of preeminence. Samson Oruru Amuka-Pemu, that hip, avuncular, and companionable journalist all of us grew as much as know as Unhappy Sam, could now be licensed, formally, as a dwelling legend. I’ve identified him for much longer than I met him. Those that bear in mind the Nigerian press of the Nineteen Sixties would most likely admit that they grew up within the period of intensely fervid, vibrant (by no means thoughts: I nearly stated luscious) journalism.
“The Every day Occasions, the generic title for all newspapers at the moment, consolidated its posture because the regnant every day, what with a succession of star columnists together with Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan), Tai Solarin, Allah Dey (Alhaji Alade Odunewu), Gbolabo Ogunsanwo and, after all, Unhappy Sam (Sam Amuka).
I discovered of Unhappy Sam’s friendliness by way of my bosom buddy, Josy Ajiboye, who was the resident cartoonist once I arrived on the Every day Occasions because the Artwork Editor in 1974. Uncle Sam, the rascally senior journalist, had left the newspaper organisation by the point I arrived. But, the residual trails of his tenure had been unmistakable.”
The Cartooning Renaissance: Sam Amuka’s Unsung Legacy
Whereas many have a good time Mr. Amuka’s exploits as a journalist and businessman, Prof jegede’s tribute, initially written for his ninetieth birthday, focuses critically on his profound but typically neglected contribution to the efflorescence of cartooning in Nigerian media. He stated, “I’ve learn lots of the wealthy encomiums and panegyrics on Uncle Sam, all of which extol his exploits as a journalist and his bruises and triumphs as a businessman. In all of this, little or no consideration is paid to his contributions to the efflorescence of cartooning in Nigeria. Not because the Nnamdi Azikiwe/Akinola Lasekan period within the West African Pilot have Nigerians been uncovered to a plethora of inventive expressions by cartoonists on a sustained stage.”
Having served as Artwork Editor on the Every day Occasions in 1974, jegede confessed to a earlier “pet peeve” in regards to the exclusion of cartoonists from the formal structure of journalism. This, he notes, modified essentially with Mr. Amuka’s affect.
“When Amuka-Pemu co-founded The Punch, in 1973, his “nascent curiosity in cartoons and the worldview of cartoonists” exploded. With the legendary Kenny Adamson on the helm, alongside a coterie of enthusiastic younger artists like Tayo Fatunla, Dotun Gboyega, Femi Jolaolu, and Boye Gbenro, The Punch grew to become a “powerhouse of daring, inventive impudence,” ushering within the renaissance of Nigerian press graphics. Even the Tribune in Ibadan caught the fever, with Bayo Odulana’s inventive hauteur. “
By the point he based Vanguard in 1984, “cartooning desks had been established in main newspapers. Vanguard bore Amuka’s unmistakable imprimatur within the cartooning division, which showcased “unusual temerity” and autonomous creativeness, that includes each editorial cartoons and brief, single-column social banter, epitomized by the well-known Mr. and Mrs. collection.” The “Vanguard faculty of cartoonists,” together with Paul Adams, Laobis Obilonu, Sami Abejide, and Lawrence Akapa, continues to thrive right this moment.
Dada Adekola, the present Cartoon Editor at Vanguard and President of the Cartoonists Affiliation of Nigeria (CARTAN)-a physique on whose Board of Trustees Professor Jegede serves as Chair, testifies to this affect.
“Uncle Sam, being a satirist, naturally influenced the cartoon division on the Vanguard. He provides kudos (typically with money items, if a cartoon piece excites him) and knocks when mandatory. The truth is, he virtually employed all of the cartoonists in Vanguard since they need to meet his approval. All editors hand off in terms of employment of cartoonists,” Adekola affirmed.
Professor dele jegede: The Celestial Aesthetics
Prof jegede himself is a powerhouse of creativity, famend as a Nigerian-American painter, artwork historian, and curator. Born in 1945 in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, his profession spans continents and disciplines, from incomes his First-Class Honours diploma in Wonderful Arts from Ahmadu Bello College, Zaria, to acquiring his MA and Ph.D in Artwork Historical past from Indiana College. He has served as President of the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Arts Council of the African Affiliation (ACASA).
Among the many works on show on the USA Exhibition, his portray “Celestial Aesthetic Sequence 2″ (acrylic on canvas, 24″x 36”, 2014) is noteworthy. The work is a part of his “Celestial Aesthetics” collection, an evocative and non secular physique of labor that holds deep private significance.
jegede revealed that the collection emerged as a “cathartic response” to the devastating lack of his 29-year-old son 14 years in the past.
“For some inexplicable motive, the incident left me gravitating in the direction of home windows. and for so long as I can bear in mind, my inventive impulse ceased. And when ultimately I went again to the studio, the collection that poured out regarded to the heavens,” he wrote.
The inaugural USA Exhibition, curated by Dr. Osa Mbonu-Amadi is thus introduced as a “celebration of textual content constructed because the intersection of literary, inventive, and performative enactments.” It guarantees to be a novel and very important cultural providing, paying homage to the Godfather of progressive journalism and the renaissance man of Nigerian arts, Uncle Sam Amuka.
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