Emmanuel Okechukwu Odita

Emmanuel Okechukwu Odita, age 89, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, passed away on May 20, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Born on January 17, 1936, in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, Emmanuel was the son of John Chukwugbo Odita and Leah Uzoma Nzekwu. His commitment to education and lifelong learning was evident through his impressive academic achievements, which included a Ph.D. in the History of African Art from Indiana University, a Master of Arts in Printmaking and Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the State University of Iowa, and a Diploma in Fine Arts in Painting from the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology.

Emmanuel was the first Black Africanist to teach the History of African Art in the United States, where he founded the History of African Art and Archaeology program in the Department of History of Art at The Ohio State University as an Associate Professor and Professor from 1969 to 2012. He taught contemporary African art as well as traditional African art and culture in both the undergraduate and graduate programs.

While getting his Ph.D. from Indiana University, Emmanuel studied with Professor Roy Sieber, founder of the discipline of African Art History in the United States. He was also a founding member of the Zaria Art Society (Zaria Rebels/Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA)) along with Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo, Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, Oseluka Osadebe, and Late Nwagbara. His research in the United States focused on twentieth century African art and its relation to traditional African art and culture.

Emmanuel was a graphic artist, painter and African art historian who participated in numerous contemporary African art conferences in Africa, Canada, Europe, South America, and the United States, as well as working field trips to Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo and Zimbabwe. Starting in 2001, he curated contemporary African art shows at the KIACA Gallery in Columbus, a non-profit organization committed to establishing a solid platform for contemporary African art and artists in society.

Emmanuel published and lectured widely, including presenting numerous papers at African Studies Association meetings and other symposia in the United States, Canada, South America and Africa. He also held exhibitions of his own work in Africa and the United States, including one with the Smithsonian Institution’s Travelling Exhibition of African Prints.

Emmanuel loved to sing and dance and played the drums for The Odenigbo Cultural Group, a Columbus-based philanthropic performing arts organization under the umbrella of the Ohio Chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDOA). He performed at numerous special events across the United States with the Odenigbo Group, including at the late Chinua Achebe’s 70th birthday celebration at Bard College in New York and the special commencement at Wilberforce University honoring the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obansanjo.

Emmanuel’s life was filled with joy and laughter, and his love of art, teaching and education will be his enduring legacy. He is survived by his sons, Odili Donald Odita and Chukwuemeka Eric Odita; daughters, Chinyere Peggy Odita-Hodel and Uzoma Betsy Odita; grandchildren, Xolani Raine Hodel, Ifeanyi Aliya Odita, and Xander Jide Hodel; brother, Benjamin Oginika Odita; and sister, Comfort Chinyelu Odita.