He is a builder and developer of characters. He has done it with everyone that knocks around him. It is a calling and mission to accomplish. Sam Ovraiti is just sublime. Writes Ireho Aito
It was an interview arranged and had to be rescheduled because of time factor. Finally, yours truly found him in a middle class neighborhood in Ojodu end of Lagos. The environment is serene and calm for a healthy living. While standing in front of the building, I had to put a call across to him. The time was a bit around 8.30 in the morning. Sam Ovraiti picked the call and replied someone would attend to me in a short while. A very receptive woman, Alice opened the gate with all her friendliness.
The welcoming was charming and we both strolled into the living room tastefully designed with artworks all over but neatly arranged to give the apartment a homely feeling. This is Sam Ovraiti’s abode and my curious conclusion was, Sam Ovraiti has done so well for himself to find such abode here, rich in alluring opulence. This well curated art direction in his duplex apartment can only come from a master who knows his onions in interior decoration. The living room seems to look like a gallery already opening for a solo exhibition of artist of Ovraiti’s calibre.
He has a deep resemblance anyway with one of Africa’s foremost set designer in the person of Pat Nebo of blessed memory who Midas touch turned ordinary TV and film sets to extraordinary sets and making them to attain blockbusters status.
It is obviously conspicous that Sam Ovraiti has spent his time and money wisely as a renowned painter and watercolourist.
Known for his stylish Tin – tin haircut over the years, Sam Ovraiti is a Nigerian, a teacher,businessman, a painter, watercolourist and father to so many people, a mentor and builder of men into leaders with special strides as glorious instrumentalist, especially the guitar.
Sam has a listening ear and an open heart to guide and be truthful in delivery. He is a treasure for modern art globally. Yes, indeed, and so captivating, his unique traits made him a global treasure. “There is something about you Sam, and the reason you are still part of my ideas. The world hasn’t scratched your talents enough. Sam, we cannot have another director for Harmattan Workshop, not at any time soon.” These are the words of Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya about the personality that has joined him over the years to build Harmattan Workshop at Agbarha Otor, in Delta State. “Sam lives the vision and sleeps the mission. Sam is the workshop, a leader that can be trusted, Professor Onobrakpeya re – affirmed about the charismatic Sam Ovraiti. His directorial process of the workshop in over two decades of its existence has come with precision and deep etched thought process.
There is something about you Sam, and the reason you are still part of my ideas. The world hasn’t scratched your talents enough
While still admiring the plethora of artworks in the living room, Ovraiti strolled in with a smile, “my brother, I have been taking it slowly nowadays, I was still in bed when you called,” the veteran artist tried to explain his current lifestyle. Sam Ovraiti, currently, is a winner. He is an overcomer and believer in miracles. His attraction to life makes him a man with the Midas touch!
“But come so, how did you escape the dogs?” he asked staring at me. “Okay, she must have taken care of them. You for hear am today,” he joked and we both laughed.
Almost everyone that has passed through School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, has one or two moments with Sam Ovraiti. He is like mercurial midfielders who orchestrate football teams to victory. Many of the students of the school have come out to point at him being available and a sort of disruptor they needed to succeed. Clara Okhide, a visual artist who graduated from Auchi, celebrated him in an interview, when he revealed the impact of the mercurial painter and teacher in her life. She says, ‘I was asked to just look out for him by my sister when I gained admission to Federal Polytechnic Auchi. Look for him, he is very popular. You can never miss him,” Clara revealed. “Uncle Sam told me one thing as we were driving towards the school gate, “you see this place, and you have a choice to make. You can choose your books and leave with your head high or you run after men and bow out in shame, it is a choice for you to make,” Ovraiti advised her. “Even when I started my career, I still stayed with him and his family. I had a room to myself and everyone knew my room, they refer to it as Aunty Clara’s room,” she talks about the benevolence of Sam Ovraiti. Clara is the younger sister of another iconic Nigerian artist Juliet Ezenwa Maja – Pearce who Sam once did her portrait with another friend sometime in 1988 when they were still in their undergraduate days in the university at Abraka. The portraits remained indelible in their minds till this day. Juliet Ezenwa Maja – Pearce was an Abuja based student of the university at Abraka, but frequently would stop by to say hello to him at Auchi. After graduation in 1990, Juliet was with the cerebral painter for four years and grew her career hanging around seasoned artists and scholars until she became independent and one of the reasons she never missed her steps. Sam Ovraiti and Juliet Ezenwa Maja – Pearce, developed a bond, career progression and studio practice was also established for the young Juliet ably assisted by the highly dependable Sam Ovraiti.
In the words of Fidelis Odogwu, another student from Auchi, Sam Ovraiti saw his work way back in the early 90s, as a class work and was swept off his feet by the word of a young student and opened up in Pidgin English, “who be this guy, make una tell am make im see me immediate immediate!” Odogwu confessed that Sam Ovraiti helped him to sell the particular work for Five Thousand Naira in 1992. Fidelis Odogwu was surprised. Sam Ovraiti moves characters to their doorsteps of freedom. He admits that some only need the push which he gives in quantum. In his words, “you will know the ones that are not just hungry but they want to eat. The drive is noticeable in them,” he concludes.
Emmanuel Dudu Arugha, another product of the school, in a recent interview, confessed how he had one of the shortest but most illustrious three – day industrial training with Sam Ovraiti. “Sam Ovraiti was preparing for an exhibition titled ‘Colour Masters’ at that time. Pita Ohiwerei was also in the studio with him. Because of his demands, I couldn’t stay beyond three days that were so enriching and impactful. Sam Ovraiti took me to another level in that short period,’ Dudu confessed.
More testimonies abound about one of the greatest characters in modern Nigerian art have been shared and widely celebrated. Sam Ovraiti deserves his medals. While within our reach on one of the sofas is a saxophone that caught my attention and I still wanted to ask him the role the French instrument plays in his life? But Sam Ovraiti along the line chipped in, “I don’t associate with those ones among them who are not ready to be there. Time is of essence to success,” he maintains. There must be value for exchange. People should know they have values in them to unleash to the world in exchange for abundance,” Ovraiti says while waiting for my reaction concerning his profound opinion.
Many of the students got to know the importance of consistency and persistence in their careers through the unending mentoring of Sam Ovraiti. You don’t rush the sunrise to rise and set, instead, the sun rises at the right time and set appropriately. He continues, “Being part of their development has always been the key for me. Fidelis Odogwu can testify and how it ended well. The power of courage and persistence paved way for him,” he reveals.
Sam Ovraiti was the best in his Painting class and even while he was running his studio at Hussey College, he was in touch with genuine networks. The School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi will always celebrate the young men that toiled to make the school rise to international prominence building on the foundation led by Adejumo. After being groomed by the quality master Adejumo, who trained them, the young Ovraiti and his contemporaries, Emmanuel Ukoro, Ben Osaghae of blessed memory, Duke Asidere from Ahmadu Bello University, and others enterprising scholars drove the school with sterling attributes of men with valour. Sam Ovraiti is well loved and admired, even beyond the visual art fraternity. He still cherishes his Warri days, the frolicking moments and what life has given him. His character drives success around his stead.
Three days to my visit, he received a personal copy of a body of literature on history on Nigerian art facilitated by His Royal Highness, Prof. Naemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha. The book chronicles on the private collections of artworks by the cosmopolitan king and the roll call of artists whose works have been collected by the king. Sam Ovraiti pushed the book and a stool to me to peruse while we get talking. It was an awesome work of literature.
who be this guy, make una tell am make im see me immediate immediate!”
At the right time, the young Ovraiti had to depart the School of Art and Design for more personal endeavours, they wanted to go places. His gang, Asideres, Osaghaes, all left immediately for their studio practice and consultancy missions. It was like the end of a certain era but the journey for them was well worth it.
Life as a teacher in a school and running the studio as an artist may look cumbersome to any young and aspiring artist who wants to be in that mode. Sam Ovraiti explained that there is a natural way of injection in every system. He disagreed with me that his generation left the school rather it was a natural process in every facet of life. “I left because I wasn’t ready to teach anymore. I was ready to go and pursue full time professional career as a painter. He has indeed wowed the global audience with his myriad of exhibitions at home and abroad.
However, while still in Auchi, they were building the Ajaokuta Steel Company, the city of Abuja was being built. The people behind these projects were always travelling from Lagos to Abuja on road, no insecurity issues we are witnessing today. They normally stopped over at Benin and Auchi to admire the creative endeavours of the two cities – Benin and Auchi and also fraternize with the artists which I happened to be one of them,” he reveals. At that time, Ovraiti was enmeshed in his watercolour series and contractors were always falling in love with his body of work which was easier for them to take back to their countries.
Sam made a lot of inroads as an artist with his Abuja résumé such as the old conference center, Agura hotels and more, his paintings are everywhere which gave him so much visibility and the patronage didn’t stop. Hilton hotels gave him that opportunity to build an art shop which he was in charge directly. The manager of the hotel was an art lover and enthusiast. Sam Ovraiti had to be involved in a lot of travels. He maintains for you to be relevant and patronized, you have to give before you get. A profound philosophy he maintains always.
Sam Ovraiti went down memory lane by explaining the occupational route of Nigerian artists at the time. Not so much of full time studio artists because the Nigerian economy was very good and graduates were filling up companies to work back then. “The Nigerian system was still very good at that time, if you are a textile graduate for instance; the job was waiting for you at Textile Mills companies. Graphics graduates were moving into television houses before the contemporary advertising companies started poaching them with improved remunerations. It was graduating and moving into paid employment era at that time,” he reminisces. He would admit that going all out gave him better horizon of his profession as commissioned works, diplomatic relations and exhibitions gave him the fillip he needed.
The interview had some interruptions that were so important to attend to but every interruption centered on the artist benevolence. He was receiving calls of appreciation for his support here and there. Charity is part of his life and he is not stopping. “I do it not because I am Bill Gates,” he says. “I got a delivery of an exercise bicycle from someone. And the person narrated a story I couldn’t remember again, about the role I played in his career trajectory,” he opens up.
“Biblically, when you talk about tithing, we need to look at the flip side of it. There is a part of you, of anything that should be sown. If you keep all to yourself, everything will fall apart and get rotten. It is the lesson of that ten percent that the Bible wants to teach us. But we are not getting it,” the meticulous artist explains. He explains by using the narrative of a mango and stew. There is one part of the mango one cannot eat which is the seed. Sam says he is only looking at the wisdom of the bible, the principle in that book. “If you cook stew what do you do? You blend the tomatoes. But when you eat mangoes and oranges you throw away the seeds. That seed is the ten percent that you have to return to the source. You need to plant it back which we don’t do. Instead, we throw the seeds away. And for the stew, we only grind the tomatoes and next time, we still go back to the market looking for tomatoes to buy.” Characteristically Sam Ovraiti as a ‘Warri born’ switched to his Warri – ascent pidgin about personal development and investment in oneself that became so hilarious during the interview.
But when you eat mangoes and oranges you throw away the seeds. That seed is the ten percent that you have to return to the source.
The training Sam Ovraiti and others had from the highly celebrated Ademola Adejumo and the famed School of Art and Design, Auchi, made the school a force to be reckoned with in Nigeria. “When Ademola Adejumo left Auchi, he put me and Ukoro there to continue. Adejumo told me that he has taught people and he believed in me, he begged me not to let the legacy be truncated neither diminished. Adejumo taught us new ways of seeing arts and paintings. He taught us new ways of behaving as artists. He was not actually an exhibiting artist himself but he was able to build people. It was the legacy he handed over to us that we transferred to others as well,” Ovraiti says about the spectacular leadership of Ademola Adejumo who is now a retired lecturer from the great University of Ife.
He explains further about the positive influence of the school during that time. It was a period the US ambassador and other diplomatic corps were driving down to Benin from Lagos and Abuja, stopping over always at the school in Auchi and marveling at the creative enclave in the school. It was about that time too, the American government was given scholarships to our students in School of Art and Design. Alex Nwokolo, a notable Nigerian artist was one of the beneficiaries of the US government scholarship. The school was being helped by diplomatic missions because of what we were given out,” he maintains. “The American ambassador came to my house and asked about my studio, I replied my apartment is my studio. He was shocked by the volume of work being churned out from the place. Because we have a lot to give, the Americans started collaborating with the school. I told them to help my students,” Ovraiti remarks. And the ambassador decided to give scholarships to some of the students in School of Arts and Designs, Auchi. A letter was written to the school on the forthcoming partnership. “Every 5th of June, I was always in the American ambassador’s for US Independence Day celebration,” he still recalls.
The American ambassador came to my house and asked about my studio, I replied my apartment is my studio.
After sometime, we moved our discussion to the dining table where the amiable lady in the house, Alice, has made some good breakfast on the table. He beckons on Alice for some light as the usual power company has put out electricity during the course of the interview. Nigerians are used to such actions for years unending. Alice was able to remove some certain painting and pulled back the curtains for illumination at the dining. Jokingly he uttered,” I am only supposed to take one cup of tea only. That’s for me and my tradition. It is not compulsory you eat two eggs but it depends on your condition. If you know that it won’t end well then don’t eat the two,” he shares some hilarious moments to the breakfast. We laughed seriously at the dining as Sam Ovraiti was living up to the billing as a typical ‘Warri boy’ with a great sense of humour.
“Let me tell you, you lose nothing doing everything. Rather, you lose everything doing nothing,” Sam Ovraiti chips this in at the dining. “It is a principle of life for every man to know,” He recalls he stopped visiting galleries for years. “All the time we talking and you were reminding of our encounters at the galleries such as Mahogany and Quintessence were many years ago.” He confirmed when he was at Auchi Polytechnic, he worked with many heads of schools. “I was various committees, yet with my Higher National Diploma Certificate. They drafted me into the National Board for Technical Education, again, served in the academic board of the school. I refused to run away because I was available and ready to serve.”
What makes a work of art a masterpiece? Sam Ovraiti that such a question doesn’t have an answer. For him it is the way you come across such works. The ones you read and study or the ones you experienced in your life. “A masterpiece is always done before it becomes a masterpiece,” he explains. “You cannot say you want to create a masterpiece. When you bring your work out, critics, enthusiasts, scholars will know the value of what you have. Yet, there are people who can create masterpieces, such people have followed principles. Integrity must be constant. That is the reason some musicians become icons simply because they have followed principles. I want you to know that there are one masterpiece artists and they would never do another one again.”
Very genuine for an artist of his era, Sam Ovraiti knows about the current trends and sounds from his myriads of examples about life, career and faith.
He decided to shed more light about the famous school that shaped the lives of so many Nigerians not only academically but also, lifetime decisions to follow as we enjoy our breakfast. “Auchi School was built as a school for art and design. It was thoroughly planned with departments to meet the expectations of many. That is a beautiful advantage and edge, School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi has over the others.”
“A masterpiece is always done before it becomes a masterpiece,”
The name is Samuel Ovraiti. He was born in the northern part of Nigeria, Zaria to be précised in 1961. His father worked with the old Electrical Company of Nigeria, that later metamorphosed into National Electric Power Authority. The three – year Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970 put an end to such fruitful northern expedition, as the family had to leave the north due to upscale war already in the country. Sam experienced the pandemonium of the war
Let me tell you, you lose nothing doing everything. Rather, you lose everything doing nothing
His mother had to hide and find ways for them to escape that rough times. The family was able to board a train down to Lagos. The family eventually ended up in Warri, the Niger Delta part of Nigeria. “The travails of moving and stopping over at Asaba before finally landing in Warri could be best imagined by my parents.”
Despite being a little boy, his train experience is one he can never forget. Sam Ovraiti recaptures the sound of the train in a hilarious manner, “I was little but the sound of the train was melodious to the ears, sounding lo –gi – ji – jam, lo –gi – ji – jam,” Ovraiti’s sense of humour can only be compared to Duke Asidere, another artist with a vibrant strokes on colours. “He has good memories of some of the events of the war.
He attended elementary school in Warri. Whenever planes are flying across the school, the teachers would quickly order the students to lie down because, mostly come with relief materials for the people and the pupils would have a swell time to enjoying relief materials such as milk and more. It became a natural occurrence for the pupils to always lie down when planes were dying over the school or community.
Sam Ovraiti had his education with notable and renowned names in Nigeria. He recalls that the children of the rich and poor attended the same schools in his time. He attended the famous James Welch Grammar School, Emevor. Some of his secondary school classmates is Dede Mabiaku, a popular Nigerian Afrobeat musician and Theatre Artist, had a very wealthy background and Dede was my classmate. We were part of various concerts bands and played together. He confessed he is an uncle to another great Nigerian musician called Daddy Showkey from the musician’s paternal side.
Sam Ovraiti’s father was a singer. O-v-r-a-i-t-i means the singing bird. They nicknamed him the singing bird. He explains his father was a singer and led the choir in the church, The Anglican Communion. Ovraiti himself found love with the guitar and played the instrument as a member of a band in school known as the ‘PM Jam’ with members such as Kester Imolamen, Charly Imo, Roba Ariggo, a top brass in music while Ovraiti was drafted in as a novice but very much available to be part of a band. He was patient to have a playing time with the band whenever they were invited for gigs. He got opportunity to do a solo at break time for the band and the performance turned out to be an instant hit all over the school campus. He became a campus star and very much sought after on campus. The ‘PM Band’ made him an integral member of the band because of his fame and star power.
Ovraiti went to school and was part of the popular Expo ’77. It was an examination malpractice that rocked the Nigerian educational system. The West African Examination scandal was huge and results were cancelled. The students were asked to rewrite their papers devoid of fraud and exams leakage. He sat for the exams again and came out with flying colors. Because of the perpetual fear of results cancelation, he enrolled in Hussey College. Sam Ovraiti was also a teacher at the time and as he claims, “there was work everywhere once you have very good results”. At Hussey College, he came out again with flying colours known as Division One. Sam Ovraiti while in school was a brilliant mathematician. And at Hussey College, he was like a teacher among the students because of his brilliance in academics and a very exceptional in numerics.
He decided to read Fine Arts at Auchi Polytechnic to the consternation of many who thought he would end reading courses like Accounting and the rest. He knows from time that he is a great artist. He reveals, “it is only in the art profession you are refer to as an artist even before you begin your journey.”
At School of Art and Design, Auchi, Sam Ovraiti was the President of Fine Art department. He graduated and did his one year compulsory National Youth Service Scheme in Anambra State. Ovraiti was called back after his service year by his erstwhile teacher, Adejumo to come and teach at the Polytechnic. He asked him to apply which he did and was offered employment. He confessed while as a teacher, he was still doing his solo gigs and with ‘PM Jams’ across campuses. We were also organizing events such as beauty pageants and honours to commendable students in various educational and social endeavours.
After serving the school meritoriously, Sam Ovraiti left in 1993 for Lagos for a full time studio career. He stated it was not the money, rather, the creative mien that was the driving force. He decided to obtain a Masters of Fine Art at the University of Benin. At University of Benin, he became classmates with great people such as Professor Edewor Nelson, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi and Abraham Uyovbisere. We all did very well.
While in Lagos, he was living the life of a teacher to many students of the school who were trying to find their feet. He opened up to them that school only teaches what to know and the outside is to apply what you already know. There are different applications to everything. Outside you think of the purpose of what you are doing which should serve generations. “You have to ask people who are practicing to tell you how to practice,” Ovraiti insists.
You have to ask people who are practicing to tell you how to practice,
Looking around the house, shows that Sam Ovraiti has lived his career in meritorious stages. He is well processed to excel and he has been excelling.
Balancing family and career is no option for him. He explodes, “there is no balance in life. Rather, enmesh in hardwork and invest well. Try and be focus.” He said he samples his life around the Picassos. While Picasso was in France, he had a studio. Everywhere he went and lived, he had a studio. Ovraiti has had three or four studios at different locations in Nigeria which is so commendable and worth deserving of a mentor with a mission. “I can walk into any of my studios and paint, he stated. “Even within my building, I choose my positions to work, there is always a direction,” he maintains.
Even within my building, I choose my positions to work, there is always a direction,”
“To become an artist back then, you must do Fine Art and everything,” he shares this information while Alice caught up with us to be excused to do some certain chores outside the house. Behind the building dogs were barking to welcome Alice around.
Sam Ovraiti is happily married with five children, four boys and a girl. The family beautiful portrait adorns the living room. They are all musically inclined, though not professional musicians.
Ovraiti reasserted that he is not an artist. He says “I am a human being doing the business of art and in that business of art, my work is creating art.” He continues, “I don’t fight to go and sell art to people, neither fight to sell art materials. I am Sam Ovraiti,” he claims.
I am a human being doing the business of art and in that business of art, my work is creating art
He confessed that at a time in his life, he was known from different perspectives by different people. Some people knew him as an artist, a painter, others as a speaker while some knew him as a musician. He maintains that anything he does, he does it well. “If you don’t think too much of self, you can grow.”
If you don’t think too much of self, you can grow
And push! We are done with the interview. As I walk towards the door with him, he pointed at the saxophone on the sofa which I had wanted to enquire about, “I have not played this instrument for a long time,” he stated while looking at me and carrying the adorable instrument. “But today, I am going to play it. It has been on this chair for some time. I need to play it and bring life around here. Music is life,” he affirms.
Words/Ireho Aito/Images/Photographs/Sam Ovraiti /hourglassgallery.com/Google archives.
Artworks – Affection II Oil on Canvas; Reading Oil on Canvas; Midday Melody
Oil on Canvas; Prayer Charcoal; Models Charcoal; Re-awakening Pastel; Sisters II
Pastel
