By Comfort Asemota
A celebration of words, visuals, and the enduring legacy of a media titan, Uncle Sam Amuka unfolds today, December 16, 2025, as the inaugural Uncle Sam Amuka (USA) Art Exhibition opens at Alexis Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Headlining the landmark event is the renowned Nigerian-American painter, art historian, cartoonist, curator, art critic, art administrator, and teacher, Professor Dele Jegede.
The exhibition, titled USA, is an acronym for the nonagenarian journalist, satirist, and newspaper publisher known as “Uncle Sam Amuka.” According to Prof. Jegede, “a summary disclaimer is called for at this juncture: USA—the title of this exhibition—has nothing to do with a country that goes by that acronym. Rather, through sheer serendipity, it became a predestined, fitting moniker for Uncle Sam Amuka, the eponymous Grand Patron of this Art Exhibition.”
A Rare Breed of Nonagenarians
In his tribute, Prof. Jegede notes that Amuka belongs to a rare and distinguished cohort of Nigerian nonagenarians blessed with discernment. “Uncle Sam has earned his stripes, and richly so,” Jegede states. “In my estimation of Nigerians of moral probity, disciplined disposition, and purposeful living, he ranks among greats such as Jose, Jakande, Solarin, (Chief Simeon) Adebo, Mbanefo, (Aminu) Kano, and (Akinola) Aguda.”
Jegede also places Amuka alongside other distinguished creative spirits and nation builders, including Afe Babalola, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, and Wole Soyinka. He describes Amuka as “the youngest 90-year-old inductee into this club of preeminence.”
“All of this represents a short introduction to Samson Oruru Amuka-Pemu, that hip, avuncular, and companionable journalist we all grew up to know as Sad Sam, now officially certified as a living legend,” Jegede continues. “Those who remember the Nigerian press of the 1960s would probably admit that they grew up in the era of intensely fervid, vibrant journalism. The Daily Times, the generic name for newspapers at that time, consolidated its posture as the regnant daily, with a succession of star columnists including Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan), Tai Solarin, Allah Dey (Alhaji Alade Odunewu), Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, and of course, Sad Sam (Sam Amuka).”
The Cartooning Renaissance: Sam Amuka’s Unsung Legacy
While Amuka is widely celebrated as a journalist and entrepreneur, Prof. Jegede emphasizes his profound yet often overlooked contribution to the growth of cartooning in Nigerian media. “Very little attention is paid to his influence on the efflorescence of cartooning in Nigeria. Not since the Nnamdi Azikiwe/Akinola Lasekan era have Nigerians been exposed to a sustained outpouring of creative expression by cartoonists.”
Jegede explains that Amuka’s influence became particularly notable when he co-founded The Punch in 1973. “His interest in cartoons and the worldview of cartoonists exploded. With the legendary Kenny Adamson at the helm, alongside young artists like Tayo Fatunla, Dotun Gboyega, Femi Jolaolu, and Boye Gbenro, The Punch became a powerhouse of daring, creative impudence, ushering in a renaissance of Nigerian press graphics. By the time Amuka founded his next newspaper in 1984, cartooning desks were established in major newspapers, bearing his unmistakable imprimatur in editorial cartoons and short, socially reflective columns.”
Dada Adekola, a prominent cartoonist and current leader in Nigeria’s cartooning community, affirms, “Uncle Sam, being a satirist, naturally influenced the cartoon department. He encouraged excellence, rewarded outstanding work, and guided the creative direction of the cartoonists under his watch.”
Professor Dele Jegede: The Celestial Aesthetics
Prof. Jegede himself is a powerhouse of creativity, renowned as a painter, art historian, and curator. Born in 1945 in Ikere-Ekiti, his career spans continents and disciplines, from earning a First-Class Honours degree in Fine Arts from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to obtaining his MA and Ph.D. in Art History from Indiana University. He has served as President of the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA).
Among the works on display at the USA Exhibition is his painting “Celestial Aesthetic Series 2” (acrylic on canvas, 24″x36”, 2014), an evocative and spiritual body of work that holds deep personal significance. Jegede revealed that the series emerged as a cathartic response to the devastating loss of his 29-year-old son 14 years ago, inspiring a creative exploration of transcendence and hope.
The USA Exhibition
Curated by Dr. Osa Mbonu-Amadi, the inaugural USA Exhibition is presented as a celebration of text, visuals, and creative expression intersecting in homage to the Godfather of progressive journalism and renaissance man of Nigerian arts, Uncle Sam Amuka. The exhibition promises a novel and vital cultural offering, highlighting Amuka’s lasting impact on journalism, media, and the visual arts.
