Ekiti hosts fundraiser for Olowe Museum

Arrangements have reached conclusive stage for the fundraising ceremony of Olowe of Ise Museum, Ekiti. Scheduled for Sunday, October 27, 2024, the event is billed for Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. His Excellency, Abiodun Oyebanji, Governor of Ekiti State, will be the chief host.

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Governor Oyebanji had inaugurated the Board of Trustees of Olowe of Ise Arts Foundation. The foundation aims to honour legacy of the late Olowe and promote appreciation of Nigerian art and culture.

The Board, which has as members those who share a passion for art and cultural preservation, is responsible for guiding the foundation’s activities, ensuring its sustainable growth, and bringing recognition to the works of the late Olowe.

Members of the Board include Senator Babafemi Ojudu – Chair, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, Chief Nike Okundaye, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Mr Akin Oyebode, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, Dr Mike Adeoye, Mrs Abiola Adelana, Prince Tunde Odunlade, Prof. Lawrence Kolawole, Mr Ologbon Olowe and Mr O A Olayinka.

Chairman, Board of Trustee, Olowe of Ise Arts Foundation, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who spoke in Lagos on Sunday, October 20, 2024, on the fundraiser, said financing the Olowe of Ise Museum in Ise Ekiti requires significant financial resources for its construction, acquisition of artworks and operational support.

While stating that the Olowe Museum project is not that of Ekiti State government alone, but of all Nigerians who share in the vision of the board, Ojudu said, “the fundraising event would be an opportunity for patrons of the arts, corporate moguls and the general public to contribute to the landmark project.”

According to him, Ekiti State government is collaborating with both individuals and corporate bodies in the realisation of the project.

The BoT chairman remarked that the recognition of Olowe of Ise’s genius has sparked efforts to preserve his legacy and promote a deeper understanding of his contributions to art.

As one of the most important African artists of the 20th century, Olowe’s legacy continues to inspire artists, scholars, and art lovers around the world.

The late Olowe of Ise was more than just a master carver; as he was a visionary who used his art to bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine, the traditional and the innovative, the local and the global. His works, while deeply rooted in Yoruba traditions, speak to universal themes of power, spirituality, and the human condition.

Though African works of art such as the Benin Bronzes and Bronze Head from Ife head have been traditionally identified by the name of the ethnic group that produced them or by a particular style of art, the individual artists who created them were anonymous. However, Olowe defied this anonymity.

As early as 1924, his carving (a door and lintel ensemble from the royal palace at Ikere) was exhibited at the Nigerian Pavilion, British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, London. This work of art was subsequently acquired by the British Museum.

Between March 15, 1998 and September 7, 1998, the National Museum of African Art staged an exhibition of 35 major works by Olowe and was titled: Olowe of Ise: A Yoruba Sculptor to Kings. Objects at the show included, a palace door and bowl with figures, shrine figures, veranda pillars, toys, containers, and a mask.

Paul Richard had written in Washington Post after visiting the show’s opening, “this important exhibition has given to Olowe, alone among that company, an international retrospective, a volume for the library, a story and a name.”

The museum will be built on the grounds of Olowe’s original workshop in Ise Ekiti, providing visitors with an immersive experience of the environment in which Olowe created his masterpieces. Through the museum’s exhibitions and educational programmes, it will offer a deeper understanding of Yoruba art and culture, as well as the profound impact that Olowe’s work has had on the global art world, Ojudu pointed out.

The museum when completed will house galleries and workshops where the history and techniques of the art gallery will be studied and taught. It will also boost local communities, create jobs, and contribute to the cultural economy of the state.

Director General National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NMCC), Mr. Olugbile Holloway reiterated the commission’s commitment to Olowe of Ise Museum, noting that NCMM’s role is to preserve the heritage, but to preserve it in a way that generations can learn about themselves. “I feel that heritage is really the reason why we live. If we can’t preserve our heritage, then we want to lose it,” he added.

Among BOT members and guests at the briefing at Nike Art Gallery, Lagos included Olayiwola Olayinka (architect for the museum), Dr. Alex Nwobu, Abiola Adelana, Prince Ade Ajayi, Dr. Gbemisola Akinwale and Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba.