Portrait

Provenance

Acquired from the artist, and thence by descent.

Notes

Chief Muraina Oyelami, born in Iragbiji, Nigeria, in 1940, is a Nigerian painter, drummer, actor, and teacher of Yoruba descent. He began his career as an artist in 1964 and became one of the original and celebrated artists associated with the Osogbo School of Art, a movement that emerged from a series of experimental art workshops held at a local theatre complex in Osogbo.

Oyelami’s artistic practice draws deeply on Yoruba culture, traditions, mythology, and performance. In addition to his work as a visual artist, he was a drummer and actor with the theatre company of renowned Nigerian playwright and theatre director Duro Ladipo (1931-1978). He later taught traditional music and dance at Obafemi Awolowo University from 1976 to 1987, contributing to the preservation and transmission of Yoruba cultural traditions.

Throughout his career, Oyelami has occupied several important cultural roles. He is also a chief of his hometown, Iragbiji, reflecting his longstanding connection to his community and Yoruba heritage. His multidisciplinary career—spanning painting, music, theatre, teaching, and traditional leadership—places him among the important figures associated with the development and international recognition of the Osogbo artistic tradition.