Josy Ajiboye

Josiah Akanbi "Josy" Ajiboye (born 1948) is a Nigerian painter, illustrator, graphic designer and sociopolitical cartoonist who worked at the Daily Times. He was a cartoonist at the Daily Times newspaper from 1971 to 2000,[1] and his favourite artistic medium was using realism to comment on cultural, political and social issues in Nigeria.[2] His weekly cartoon column "Josy Ajiboye on Sunday" was a popular visual form of entertainment during the military era in the country.[3][4] Ajiboye is regarded among cartoon scholars as the longest serving Nigerian cartoonist and the one who brought the craft to the level of art in the country.[5][6]

Ajiboye hails from Erinmope Ekiti Ekiti State, Nigeria. He was educated at Yaba College of Technology and was taught by some prominent artists such as Yusuf Grillo and Solomon Wangboje.[7] After his secondary education, he worked as a trainee for African Challenge Magazine, a division of the Sudan Interior Mission. He started work as a cartoonist with the Morning Post.[7] In 1971, he joined Daily Times' Art Department.[8] Ajiboye is also a painter and had his first exhibition in 1977 at the Gong Gallery, Lagos Island. He had a solo exhibition at Terra Kulture in 2011.[2] All members of Ajiboye's family ( his wife and four children) are all professional artists.[9]