Ade A. Olufeko Explained

Ade Olufeko
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Other Names:Adéolu
Awards:2003 IBM Gerstner Award
Known For:Humanities and innovation, Founding of Visual Collaborative
Notable Works:North Star (2019)
Remember To Rise (2018)

Ade Abayomi Olufeko (born 1980), is an American-born designer and technologist primarily active in Lagos, Nigeria. He is known for his international contributions to humanities. Olufeko has given talks and exhibited in the United States, Africa, Asia, and Europe. His work evolved from direct interactions and collaborations with consortiums, advocacy groups, and artist collectives. He is the founder of Visual Collaborative, an American platform collaborating with diverse experts on socio-economics.[1]

In 2003, he became a recipient of the IBM Gerstner Award for exceptional service during a malware epidemic. His multidisciplinary contributions in technology, the creative sector, and speeches at prestigious institutions like University Of Oxford, Yale University, and Harvard Business School have received substantial recognition.[2] [3]

Early life and education

Ade Olufeko was born in the city of Minneapolis. He hails from Ijebu lineage, both his parents were active entrepreneurs. He spent his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria, specifically in Surulere, a mainland city, during the country's Second Republic. He received his primary education at Unilag Staff School and later attended St. Gregory's College in Obalende for his secondary education.[4]

In the mid-1990s, he returned to Minneapolis for further studies at Camden High School. During his time there as a student, he served as a guest speaker to his IB classmates in English literature, providing insights on themes of culture shock. For a period, he also resided in the historic Stevens Square. He attended Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, where he pursued studies in Computer Science with a focus on multimedia technologies.

Career

Work as technologist, IBM and Visual Collaborative

Olufeko's technology career began during the dot-com era, where he delved into motion graphics, internet technologies, and hardware while employed at companies like Ameritech, a 3M spinoff Imation, and IBM. His focus developed into digital strategy and information architecture, providing consulting services to diverse industries, including media, technology, health, and finance. Later, he relocated to New York City, joining the media conglomerate Warner Music Group. Notably, he served as a Front-End engineer for PayPal, Bank of America, and various American celebrities of different music genres online.

In 2007, Olufeko established Visual Collaborative. Since its inception, he has teamed up with more than 150 artists from different cities showcasing their talents.[5] In 2015, he returned to oversee and curate the platform, shining a spotlight on a wide range of artists and multidisciplinary creatives.[6] Then, in 2016, he took a brief break from his role at Visual Collaborative to share his expertise as a management consultant with IBM's Interactive Experience service line, contributing to innovation in the tech industry.[7]

Art

Style and selected works

Self-taught as a digital painter and in mixed-media artistry, Olufeko's creative process as an avocation evolved over a decade. His exhibited work explores Africanfuturism, experimental Chaos theory and Counterculture.[8] He is a former member of the Society for Neuroscience.[9]

Ayo Mancala

In 2021, Olufeko created and introduced the wax print version of the indigenous AYO mancala in Ankara to enter the consumer market with 200 units. The response and reviews were well-covered in local media. In the third quarter of the year, he released the Kente and Adire product lines which drew considerable interest outside Nigeria across west Africa and its diaspora.[10] According to audited data, sales of locally made units exceeded 5,000.[11] During the capital flight in the nation and following a fire outbreak in one of the largest wood communities, part of the sales helped feed numerous artisans and their families.[12] [13]

Martial Arts

Olufeko is a martial arts practitioner, initially starting with Wing Chun and later expanding to include Tai Chi and Qigong. He deepened his skills under the tutelage of Wudang Taoist Master W. Shizhi against the backdrop of Mount Luofu, in mainland China.[14] [15]

Selected exhibitions

Literary works

Visual Collaborative publishing platform:

Awards and recognition

Notes and References

  1. Taiwo . Yetunde . March 2012 . Behind the Technology: Super Cool Nerd!. Made Magazine . Lagos . 20 .
  2. Web site: Columbia University African Business Forum - Panels. April 14, 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405200423/https://aefcolumbia.com/panels.html. April 5, 2019. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: Ade Abayomi Olufeko: A Mid-career Retrospective of a Multidisciplinary Technologist with Africa's 2020s in view. May 28, 2018. July 14, 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528141058/https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/05/ade-abayomi-olufeko-a-mid-career-retrospective-of-a-multidisciplinary-technologist-with-africas-2020s-in-view/. 2018-05-28.
  4. Web site: Ade Olufeko/Visual Colabo Q&A. November 11, 2018. October 12, 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180602092343/http://thediasporaquarterly.com/ade-olufekovisual-collabo-qa. 2018-06-02.
  5. Web site: Pop Up Art Exhibition. Kristy Samone. September 28, 2012. Feb 15, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180215032340/http://kristysamone.com/pop-up-art-exhibition/. 2018-02-15.
  6. Web site: Accomplished visual artist Ade Olufeko weighs in on his work and The Africas - Soundcloud.com . The Africas. January 8, 2016 .
  7. Web site: LBS Africa Business Conference ABC Rolls Out Africa We See Campaign. YNaija. January 27, 2016 . Oct 15, 2017.
  8. Abayomi Olufeko. NewWebPick. Newwebpick ‘Design for Designers’ . 37 . January 3, 2018.
  9. Web site: SfN Member Detail. Feb 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190113114621/http://www.sfn.org/Membership/Member-Directory/Member-Detail?m=210667019. 2019-01-13.
  10. News: Guardian Nigeria . Recalcitrant conformist succeeds with AYO Mancala to remove analytical biases in strategy . 9 January 2022 . . 4 January 2022.
  11. News: Impact of Adeolu Khafre, a Nigerian brand inspired by heritage monuments . 11 January 2024 . Guardian Nigeria . 9 January 2024.
  12. Web site: The Velocity of business innovation through design . 11 August 2021 . . 10 January 2022.
  13. News: Our Correspondent . Seasoned Technologist Tweaked Physical Ayo Mancala That Fed Artisan Families . 9 January 2022 . Leadership News Nigeria . 3 January 2022.
  14. News: Adeolu . Tunde . Nigerian Executive Expands Martial Arts Prowess with Qigong . 30 September 2023 . . 25 September 2023.
  15. News: Nigerian-American Polymath Promotes Wellness Through Combat Arts . 30 September 2023 . Leadership.ng.
  16. Web site: Visual Collaborative Art Exhibition, Miami 2008! . Ladybrille . April 15, 2008 . January 4, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150504123519/http://www.ladybrillemag.com/visual-collaborative-art-exhibition-miami-2008/ . May 4, 2015 .
  17. Web site: Local artist finds alternative way to break into the art scene. Knot Move. September 13, 2011. January 3, 2018. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171108172130/https://knotmove.com/local-artist-finds-alternative-way-to-break-into-the-art-scene/. November 8, 2017.
  18. Web site: United for Kids Foundation (UKF) Ambassadors Ball . MP Master Plan events. December 18, 2011 . December 9, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161114005541/http://www.amasterplanevent.com/united-for-kids-foundation-ambassadors-ball/. November 14, 2016 .
  19. Web site: Brave is Beautiful at the Hudson Terrace in NYC. January 17, 2013. December 20, 2017. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171220100149/http://www.iamkittycash.com/contactimages/on-january-17th-somaly-mam-will-be-the-guest-of/. December 20, 2017.
  20. News: Bahia Shehab, Bobby Yan, others feature on Visual Collaborative . 2 May 2019 . . 2 April 2019.
  21. News: Ade Olufeko breaks echo-chambers into new levels of awareness . 12 January 2021 . 20 November 2020.
  22. News: Tosin Oshinowo, Remi Vaughan-Richards, and other Nigerians featured in online catalogue . 2 May 2019 . This Day. 2 April 2019 . thisday.
  23. News: Bankole . Idowu . Seun Kuti, Chris Uwaje, others to feature on American platform, 'Visual Collaborative . 6 July 2019 . 17 June 2019.
  24. Web site: Dakore Akande, Swaady Martin, Kelli Ali, Adelaide Damoah and Husani Oakley Feature on Visual Collaborative . Odyssey2 . . 12 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191012225435/https://www.theodysseyonline.com/dakore-akande-swaady-martin-kelli-ali-adelaide-damoah-and-husani-oakley-feature-on-visual-collaborative . 12 October 2019 . dead .
  25. News: Onyekwelu . Stephen . LIFE & ARTS Nse Ikpe-Etim, William Coupon, others drive creative sector SDG . 12 January 2020 . Business Day . 4 December 2019.
  26. News: Onyekwelu . Stephen . Les Nubians, Rika, Chigul, Dakore feature in TwentyEightyFour . 15 May 2020 . . 6 May 2020.
  27. News: Robert Greene author of the 48 laws of power speaks with futurist Ade Olufeko . 12 January 2021 . . 28 December 2020.
  28. News: Techpreneur One on One with Ade Olufeko . . August 22, 2016 . Nov 18, 2017.
  29. Web site: Meet The Leader Series. January 3, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104105342/https://www.garow.me/media/1613186631316183301_1177825473/. January 4, 2018. mdy-all.
  30. Web site: Polymath Ade Olufeko receives Young entrepreneur achievement Award at NABF in Florida, and speaks at Georgetown University in D.C.. Talk Media Africa. AsuquoE. Feb 5, 2018 . Feb 15, 2018.
  31. Web site: Columbia University African Business Forum - Panels. April 14, 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405200423/https://aefcolumbia.com/panels.html. April 5, 2019. mdy-all.
  32. Web site: Sungbo's Eredo Monument Back to Awareness . thisdaylive.com . 14 October 2019.

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