Tuesday night was the official launch night with dignitaries
and media personnel making time to attend and bid from his art works?
The MC for the night was Classic FM’s Nick Odhiambo; who
treated the art lovers to a great night of jokes; humor and fun bidding while cracking
their ribs up.
Also in attendance was Machakos County Governor; Dr. Alfred
Mutua; who out bid others to take home a self-portrait for KES 40,000.
The event was graced by fellow cartoonists; Gaddo, Maddo and
Kham; as well as Standard newspaper columnist and publisher; Mr. Barrack
Muluka.
EARLY LIFE…
Frank Odoi settled in Kenya over 30 years ago from his native Ghana. His
work has appeared in various newspapers in the East African region including- THE
DAILY NATION; THE STANDARD; THE STAR and THE DAILY MONITOR.
His comics have also been published in Finland. One of the most
celebrated of his works is AKOKHAN, THE “SWORD AND SORCERY” comics series; that
ran in Kenyan newspapers and found a home at Kenway Publisher as a book.
This is what defined him as a peer of the great comics artists of
Europe and West Africa and from which this exhibition draws its title.
Frank died on April 21, 2012; in traffic accident in Nairobi when he
was just embarking on several more publishing projects and just after the Kenya
Government had finally granted him citizenship.
He left behind a widow; Monicah Carol; three daughter, Maureen; Francesca,
and Francine; and 4 young grandchildren. All of them were able to attend the
art sale exhibition and even had a chance to talk to the public.
The artist’s original artworks and digital prints being offered for
sale to the art and culture loving public; saw proceeds going to his family for
the education of his grandchildren.
The event also featured a 50 minute video documentary-THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF FRANK ODOI; that contained amazing never seen before archival footage of the
late artist.
All in all; it was a well-organized event. Free cocktails
for the guests and bonding over chips and nuts just made it even more fun. The event
was supported by Alliance Francaise; Oxford University Press; 4D innovative;
East African Educational Publishers and Buni Media.
Photos courtesy of-LEO-22 HOUSE OF PHOTOGRAPHY and Aurelia Laget of
Alliance Francaise.
