Narrative on Joe Musa  

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A Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government alumnus, Mr. Musa is the erstwhile Director General of the National Gallery of Art (2006 - 2010). He holds a Master’s degree (M.A. Visual Arts) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a 1987 First Class Honours recipient - [Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fine Arts] from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is an eclectic mind, and also a participant in the artist's boom of 80/90s. In the late 90s, as the founder of Joe Musa Galleries, he organized seminars to abridge the inane world of bohemian artists with the real Business sector from 1996 - 2002.

He attended Senior Executive Management Programmes both within and outside Nigeria among which are the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, "Business Management in the Art World", England in 2009;  “Mastering Negotiations” Course at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, U.S.A., May 2008; the Lagos Business School "Accounts for Non-Accountants in 2008" and "Finance for Non-Finance Managers in 2007". He is Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (FPA); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (FCIPSMN); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI), Fellow, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

 

He is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), adviso of the UNESCO / Norwegian Government initiative on “The Living Human Treasures project” and 2007 Distinguished Participant of the United States Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program. With an enviable curatorial track record, he has participated in the conception and documentation of public education programs in addition to having developed front-line discourses on cultural identity in the contemporary society. These platforms he continues to utilize to promote Arts and Culture as key resources for strengthening social, cultural and economic development of Nigeria.

 

As a broadcast media journalist in Channels TV (1999 – 2004), his programmes were very consistent in impacting in the development, monitoring and evaluating of the sector. His various engaging contributions have advanced artistic professionalism which brought art to a level household acceptance, in a culture that has been low on art appreciation.

 

He was an Executive Member of the Think-Tank Committee to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Arts and Culture between year 2000 and 2002.

 

Joe Musa is the recipient of the 1996 Nigeria National Merit Award (NMA) for Arts & Culture. He was also doubly nominated for the year 1999 / 2000 Nigeria Media Merit Award for TV Production of the Year and TV Presenter of the Year. He is the Millennium PABHA AWARD recipient as Best Male Artist in Africa and Overall Winner for Culture & Sports with Exceptional Personality. [Double]

 

Internationally recognized as a leading Nigerian artist he is documented in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington. D.C. in “Nigerian Artists: A Who's Who and Bibliography” compiled and edited by Bernice Kelly / Janet L. Stanley and published in 1993.

Chief Joe Musa is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International and holds the traditional title of Nka Nwere Ugwu I of Igboland. He is currently the Executive Vice Chairman of Artwatch Africa group: publishers of Artwatch Africa Magazine and owners of the Nigerian International Visual Art Fair, NIVAFAIR.

 

Joe Musa is currently undergoing his doctorate degree programme in the Visual Arts at the University Of Lagos, Nigeria.