Kunle Filani

Emmanuel Olakunle Filani (born 8 September 1957) is a Nigerian educator and artist. His works are closely identified with the school of thought named Onaism, an art movement that is based on the fusion of the designs, ornamentation and motifs found in traditional Yoruba carvings and textiles with modern art pieces such as drawings and paintings. Filani is also a lecturer and an administrator – he was a provost of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta.

Early life and education Filani was born 8 September 1957 to a polygamous family, his father Jacob Ogunmoroti Filani was a native of Ikole-Ekiti in Ekiti State, he was a civil servant who worked in the municipal government council while his mother was a teacher. His father died in 1975 when Filani was 17 years old. Due to his father's job, the family lived in various towns when he was a young child. He completed his primary education at Bishop Akinyele Primary School, Ibadan (1967–1969) and St Peter's Primary School, Ikole (1969). He attended Doherty Memorial Grammar School in Ijero Ekiti with his brother, fellow artist Tolu Filani. While in Form 2, the school provided a classroom for students inclined towards artistic activities and subsequently hired an arts teacher to manage the class. A common feature of some of his paintings is the use of decorative linear drawings and patterns.

Books Art, design and technology in the 21st century. edited by E.O. Filani ... [et al.] Lagos : Culture and Creative Art Forum (CCAF), 2007. Patterns of Culture in Contemporary Yoruba Art. Symphony Books, 2005.

Personal life Filani married Celestina Omigie in 1988. They attend the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church.