CNN International - African Voices Changemakers

nigerian artist bruce onobrakpeya has arrived at san diego state university. he's led to a collection of his award-winning work, curated by kennii ekundayo. >> a retrospective of this really great man. i want to say thank you to the entire, yes, staff of this school who were able to put it around a major event, having the university, which is the entire department. >> this is the first time that many of races artworks have been on display at the same time for an international audience to see. >> i dream of having something really striking, come out, this is a fulfillment. >> the works, which range from paintings and sculptures undulations despite the university for about a month. >> this has been the product of three years of toiling. of crying. a lot of work. a lot of stress. i am so glad to see it materialize as this. there is no better way to have this retrospective, especially for an artist. i feel very honored to be the person who brought this to reality. the debut also featured bruce and his longtime friend whose work is also featured in the exhibition i used to say that for life everything that is related to life can be put in the arts. art, to us, means we take it. >> we were rebels. what we were elevating against, we were rebelling against the colonial teaching of art. he is my older brother, we worked together numerous years. so, we are celebrating not only his art, but himself. >> we are very thrilled and excited -- >> the san diego state university staff say they were thrilled to interact with bruce, and have his work on display. >> professor bruce, he is a legend. so, anybody who is knowing anything about theater or art or creativity in africa, they are very familiar with bruce's name, that's a legend. >> i think it's amazing, i think i'm so honored, were so honored here at the san diego state to have this legendary exhibition. >> reminiscing on the rep ships epic -- as career as a teacher and artist. he said he wants to be remembered as someone who uses work to educate. >> there are many things that you can do with art, to bring up a generation. that could be better than the passage generation. so, they aren't that i do have. many places and many locations. appreciation of beauty and all of this. it's all part of it. so, i want people to realize that i have passed through this part, and what is left behind is something that can be easier to make them better recognize and better perform. >> he is also helping those work inspires people to take on art as profession. >> arts that i create is also for helping people make a good livelihood, with our you are able to work and deliver. with our, you are able to get your name. you are able to build an identity, all kind of things, you are able to correct some of the things that you think make it wrong in the society. direct people to grow a better future.