Okwui Enwezor was a trailblazing Nigerian-born poet, art critic, historian, and curator whose groundbreaking work transformed the global art landscape by elevating African and non-Western contemporary art onto the world stage. Renowned for his curatorial brilliance and intellectual rigor, Enwezor split his time between New York City and Munich, becoming one of the most influential voices in the international art world. In 2014, he was ranked 24th on ArtReview’s list of the 100 most powerful figures in art.
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Early Life and Education
Born on October 23, 1963, in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, Okwui Enwezor was the youngest son of Okwuchukwu Emmanuel Enwezor and hailed from a distinguished Igbo family in Awkuzu, Anambra State, in southeastern Nigeria. He was also a relative of the renowned academic and administrator, Walter Enwezor.
Okwui’s early years were marked by frequent relocations due to the turbulence of the Nigerian Civil War, which ultimately led his family to settle in Enugu, where he spent most of his formative years. He initially began his tertiary education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), a prestigious institution known for its contribution to African arts and letters.
In 1982, at the age of 18, Enwezor made a pivotal move to the United States. He settled in the Bronx, New York, and later transferred to New Jersey City University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Though his academic training was rooted in politics, his passion soon shifted toward poetry and contemporary art, leading to a career that would reshape the global art narrative.
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