On this edition of Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! renowned curator Dr. Mudiare Onobrakpeya, recaptures the work of a great artist, Echoes of the Delta that emerges as a powerful reminder that art must continue to speak publicly to the soul of a nation. Through the deeply reflective effort of prize-winning artist Lenri Preks Prekebena, the riverine spirit of Southern Nigeria comes alive. The work comes as a symbol of honour to a culture patriarch, Goody Ibru by his well respected friend Larry Segun -Lean
Words Dr. Mudiare Onobrakpeya | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! Artwork credit Lenri Preks Prekebena.
Echoes of the Delta arrives with emotional honesty and cultural depth that cannot be ignored. The remarkable painting by prize-winning artist Lenri Preks Prekebena is more than pigment on canvas but one living memory of Southern Nigeria’s riverine existence that is fluid, resilient, restless, and profoundly human.
Presented to a renowned businessman and cultural enthusiast Mr. Goody Ibru by his longtime friend and associate, Larry Segun -Lean of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, the artwork becomes a meeting point between friendship, legacy, and national identity.
At first glance, the viewer is drawn into movement. Figures glide through unsettled waters with rhythm and quiet determination, their presence carrying the energy of Delta communities whose histories have always been tied to the river. The waters are not merely background elements though, they breathe, speak, and almost carry the weight of memory itself.
What distinguishes Echoes of the Delta is not only its luminous colour palette or energetic work, but its emotional sincerity. Lenri Preks Prekebena paints beyond aesthetics. He paints people, labour and survival. In every touch, lies the dignity of ordinary Nigerians whose daily lives are shaped by tides, trade, tradition, and endurance.
From right to left: Mudiare Onobrakpeya, Larry Segun-Lean, the celebrant Mr. Goody Ibru, one other guest, and Mr. Igbinoba. Photograph courtesy Dr. Mudiare Onobrakpeya
There is also something symbolic in the presentation of the piece to Goody Ibru. Standing beside the painting, he appeared less like a collector receiving a gift and more like a custodian being honoured through art itself. The gesture from Larry Segun-Lean carried the warmth of old friendship and mutual respect, reminding observers that great art often becomes most powerful when connected to human relationships.
In many ways, Echoes of the Delta mirrors the Nigerian spirit proudly full of resilience despite uncertainties, beautiful despite turbulence, and constantly moving forward. This is one lesson that will remains timeless.
Dr. Mudiare Onobrakpeya is an Executive Director at Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation.
He lives and works in Lagos
iBAND Magazine, Celebrating Visual Arts from the Original.
Africa | Visual Art | Lifestyle | Culture
iBAND Magazine 