London – A broad grouping of impressive Nigerian modernist works will be included in Bonhams upcoming Modern & Contemporary African Art live auction on 8th October, 2025 which will be on view at Bonhams New Bond Street, London. The comprehensive and captivating sale, that will be led by big names of the Nigerian Modernism movement such as Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E (Nigerian, 1917-1994), Clara Etso Ugbodaga-Ngu (Nigerian, 1921-1996), and Uzo Egonu (Nigerian, 1931-1996).

Helene Love-Allotey Bonhams Head of Department, Modern and Contemporary African Art, commented: "This auction offers a rare opportunity to engage with the foundational voices of Nigerian modernism alongside the coincidental major exhibition of Nigerian modernism opening at the Tate Modern on the same day. The works by Enwonwu, Ugbodaga-Ngu, and Egonu not only showcase the technical brilliance of each artist but also reflect the cultural and political shifts that shaped their practices. These are artists who redefined modernism through a distinctly African lens, and we are proud to present such a compelling group of works that speak to both historical significance and enduring artistic relevance."

Several works by incredibly influential, Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu M.B.E will feature in the upcoming auction, including Negritude estimated at £150,000 – £200,000. In his Africa Dances series, Enwonwu focuses mostly on movement and rhythm. In Negritude the iconic fluid silhouette is set against vivid blues and yellows, a palette symptomatic of the Negritudeseries. The work offers a sense, through this palette use, of Enwonwu's technical mastery in defining his subject and directing the viewer's gaze.

Clara Etso Ugbodaga-Ngu's The labourer's song stands as a landmark of African modernism, estimated at £100,000–£150,000. Executed on oil on board, the work exemplifies Ugbodaga-Ngu's masterful synthesis of formal academic technique with a distinctly Nigerian visual language rooted in post-independence experience. A pioneering figure in modern Nigerian art, she became the first Nigerian female artist to hold a solo exhibition in the UK in 1958, at the Commonwealth Institute Art Gallery, London. The labourer's song captures the extremely rare artist's bold compositional style and her commitment to portraying the dignity and rhythm of everyday life.

Uzo Egonu's Coffee House at Bad Orb, estimated at £25,000–£35,000, is an exquisite work that holds both aesthetic and historical significance within the artist's oeuvre. A leading figure in post-war British and Nigerian modernism, Egonu's practice fused European modernist techniques with African iconography and narrative depth. This painting stands as a testament to Egonu's enduring contribution to the global modernist canon.

Other highlights include:

•William Kentridge (South African, born 1955) Untitled (a drawing from Mango Groove's 'Another Country'), signed and dated 'Kentridge 1994'; charcoal on paper, 120 x 160cm. Estimate: £150,000 - £200,000

•El Anatsui (Ghanaian, born 1944) Change goes on 90 x 518 x 2.5cm (35 7/16 x 203 15/16 x 1in). (in 54 pieces). Estimate: £70,000 - £100,000

•Papa Ibra Tall (Senegal 1935-2015) Motherhood. Estimate: £60,000 - £90,000

•Gerard Sekoto (South African, 1913-1993) Portrait of a lady wearing a beret. Estimate: £60,000 - £90,000

•Pascale Marthine Tayou (Cameroonian, born 1967) Chalks and pins V. Estimate: £25,000 - £35,000