Chief Josephine Oboh-MacLeod (born 18 July 1965) is a gallery owner in the United Kingdom. She is the first African to establish an African art gallery, called "Timbuktu", in the UK and the only black African woman who owns an art cultural center in Scotland. She is a contemporary art collector in Scotland with over 6,000 collections. She is the first to stage an Afro-Celtic cultural show in Nigeria, at Fela Kuti New Afrika Shrine.[2][3][4][1]
Josephine Oboh-MacLeod | |
---|---|
![]() Chief Josephine Oboh-MacLeod | |
Born | (1965-07-18)18 July 1965 Esan South East, Edo State, Nigeria |
Nationality | Nigerian, British[1] |
Known for | Artist, Painting, Sculpting, Photography & Design |
Spouse | Norman MacLeod |
Website | www |
Oboh-MacLeod was born into the family of Chief Major Humphrey Etafo Oboh (Adolor of Ugboha Kingdom/Okakulu of Emu Kingdom and Chief Mrs Comfort Eimiebaluye Oboh, the Edeniokun of Emu Kingdom, Ehan, Edo State, Nigeria. She is a sister to broadcaster/politician Mabel Oboh and Peter Oboh, the light former WBA/ British light heavy weight champion.
She began her education at Government College, Ojo, Lagos, Newman Prep School, Boston, Newbury College, where she earned a degree in hospitality management and a master's degree in Business Administration at University of Surrey. She studied art at London Art College, UK; interior/garden design at KLC School of Design, Chelsea Harbour, UK; and photography at Calumet Photography and Jessop Academy, UK. Epson Master Printing Course.[2][5][6]
Oboh-Macleod has been in the art world for forty years. She has presented over 6,000 collections. She is the Artistic Director at Johfrim Art and Design an art exhibitor and seller based in Milngavie. Started in 2016, Johfrim hosts cross-cultural events and represents work by about 50 artists, approximately 70% of whom are from Africa.[7][8]
She is the first African to establish an African art gallery, called "Timbuktu", in the UK and the only black African woman who owns an art culture centre in Scotland. She is the first to stage an Afro-Celtic cultural show in Nigeria, Fela Kuti New Afrika Shrine.[3]
She has been part of art Exhibitions and has her works in international private collections such as Nike Art Gallery. She is a member of art groups, including the Society of Nigerian Artists. Milngavie, Bearsden and Dalmuir Art Club, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She is the founder/ trustee of Jom Charity, Scottish charity board approved.Her charity and humanitarian work reaches her homeland of Nigeria, where she makes donations to the less privileged.[9][10][11][12][13]
She is a United Kingdom politician and a member of The Scottish Conservative Party and a member of Black Tories who advocating the inclusion of more qualified black people in public positions such as parliament across the UK, especially in Scotland.[4][14]
She was the secretary to Scottish Conservative Friends Of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (SCBAME). [15]
In 2022, Oboh-Macleod contested for councillorship in Kirkintilloch East, North and Twechar under Scottish Conservatives and Unionist Party.[16][17]
She made history by being the first woman of African descent to contest as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party’s councillorship candidate in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.[18]