Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, known as Mama Nike, is one of Nigeria’s most respected artists, became famous for reviving Adire, the traditional Yoruba indigo-dyed fabric.
Born in Ogidi, Kogi State, she learned weaving and dyeing from her grandmother at a young age, despite poverty and lack of formal education, she built a successful career in art and culture.
Mama Nike’s artworks appear in major institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the British Library. She has also held workshops and lectures in Europe and the United States. Through her work, she has helped promote Nigerian culture on the global stage.
She founded art galleries and cultural centres in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo, Abeokuta, and Kogi State. Her Lekki gallery in Lagos is widely known as the largest private art gallery in Africa. The gallery attracts tourists, artists, and students from different parts of the world.
Mama Nike also trains women and young people for free through her art foundation. She teaches Adire making, weaving, painting, beadwork, and other creative skills. Many of her students now earn a living through art and textile production.
Her centres have helped thousands of disadvantaged women and youths become financially independent.
Some now run their own businesses, while others export handmade African crafts abroad. Through her work, Mama Nike continues to preserve African culture and create opportunities for future generations.
