By Christian Smith

An iconic Nigerian painting that has been missing for the more than four decades has been found in a “modest north London flat.” 

Ben Enwonwu’s 1974 masterpiece of the Ife princess Adetutu Ademiluyi, known as Tutu, appeared at an art show in Lagos in 1975, but vanished was not spotted again until now.

It is not known how the painting got to the British capital, but it is already set to be sold for thousands of pounds at Bonhams in London next month.

Giles Peppiatt, director of modern and contemporary art at the auction house, said “it was his greatest masterpiece, and people have been asking “where is Tutu?” – so to have this image turn up is extraordinary.”