About Anthonia

Anthonia “Sola” Akinbola, née Macjob, was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria (with origins in Esure, Ijebu, Ogun State) in 1959. As a young person she was an active visual and textile artist and educator who worked on Busy Hands, a television program for elementary school children, and Feminine Scope, which empowered women to make crafts using household objects. She was also the only female member of the Olumo Art Movement, a group of artists who sought to reinvigorate the site of Olumo Rock mountain in Abeokuta with painting and sculpture.

In 1986, she arrived in Columbia, Missouri and earned a B.Ed in Art Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia. During this time she married Patrick Akinbola. In 1988 they opened their store Batik Arts, a pillar in downtown Columbia for 15 years. The store, which was also briefly a cafe, attracted people from all backgrounds, from bikers to southern hippies, with whom Mrs. Akinbola seamlessly cultivated vibrant friendships. In 1988 she also gave birth to her first child, Bimbola and three years later, her son Bunmi. While in Columbia, the Akinbolas were dedicated members of the community, regularly participating in art exhibitions and festivals, and they were often featured in articles and on the local news for their creative pursuits. They were also active members of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa of Mid-Missouri, a Nigerian cultural organization.

 In 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Akinbola relocated to New York after spending time in Nigeria. In New York, Mrs. Akinbola was active in her church community and occasionally preached, which she loved. She taught art workshops and spent the later years of her life teaching arts and crafts at senior centers across New York City, receiving grants from the New York City Council and the Queens Council on the Arts to do so. This work brought her immense joy, and her students loved her dearly.