Day art lovers, admirers, re-invented Adunni Olorisha’s memory

In what many have come to describe as the most audacious step after the demise of renowned cultural and art icon, Susanne Wenger Adunni Olorisha, six years ago, a conglomeration of the crème de la crème at the popular Wheatbaker hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, few days ago, brought to life once again, her sleeping legacy- the […]

In what many have come to describe as the most audacious step after the demise of renowned cultural and art icon, Susanne Wenger Adunni Olorisha, six years ago, a conglomeration of the crème de la crème at the popular Wheatbaker hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, few days ago, brought to life once again, her sleeping legacy- the Osun Osogbo groves.
An Austrian, Olorisha came to Nigeria in 1959 after her marriage to a linguist, Ulli Beier, who was offered a job at Ibadan, Nigeria. Both Beier and Wenger later moved to the town of Ede, near Osogbo where she was said to have quickly acculturalised herself with the Yoruba culture.
After her divorce with Beier, Olorisha was reported to have got married to one Chief Ayansola Oniru. She subsequently met with a powerful chieftain of Obatala deity, Ajagemo who initiated her into the local Yoruba religion. She was said to have demonstrated strong passion with her new found religion such that she threw everything into it, a development that made her to rise through the ranks and even emerged a priestess that became the chief custodian of Osun Osogbo grooves.
 With the campaign: Save our Art! Save our Heritage! admirers of Olorisha now have a shelter under the umbrella, Susanne Wenger Adunni Olorisha Trust being coordinated by Karin Troy.
According to Troy, if there are anything worth preserving in this age and time, such are art monuments and heritages, a responsibility she said Olorisha successfully discharged while she was alive. She said if the works and efforts of such an icon are not to be allowed to wither, then generations to come owe it a duty to sustain such preservation.
“For those who may not know the amazing works Olorisha did while she was alive, well, I can only inform them with the fact that what we are looking at here is a beautiful forest on the edge of the city of Osogbo, the Osun State capital. Nestled within it are the Osun groves. The Osun Osogbo Grove boasts of an amazing 75 hectare art park brimming with hundreds of monumental sculptures.
“And it was in recognition of the significance of this art and the heritage it reflects that UNESCO declared the location a World Heritage Site in 2005.The Osun Osogbo Grove is one of the most impressive places in the country — and one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria — where tourists and art lovers can visit the monumental sculptures created by the renowned artist,” Troy said.
According to Femi Akinsanya, Chairman, the Save Our Art! Campaign, the grooves were not developed by Olorisha alone but in collaboration with important local Osogbo artists including Adebisi Akanji, Rabiu Abesu, Kasali Akangbe-Ogun among others.
“These unique sculptures exemplify the artists’ commitment to creating art that reflects the intrinsic culture and traditions of Nigeria. Many of the sculptures, created between1960-1980, are in urgent need of repair and restoration. Restoration and preservation efforts must begin immediately or Nigeria risks losing not only the sculptures themselves, but also the important UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
“We, the present generation of Nigerians, have a duty to preserve the spectacular artistic works in the Grove and hand them over in perfect form, to coming generations. The works serve as a testament to continuation of the tradition of great creativity of Nigerian artists in our own time,” Akinsanya said.
Organizers observed, that time is of the essence because only two of the original artists working in cement are still active.
“Despite their age, they are eager and uniquely qualified to do the restoration work and totrain the next generation of artists and artisans. With improved materials and techniques, the restored sculptures will last for decades,” Akinsanya said.
On why it is necessary for the restoration of these crumbling monuments, a veteran artist, Victor Ekpuk said: “Memory is that which gives us our sense of self and identity. The preservation of our people’s culture, history and art is a preservation of our people’s memory. The Osun Osogbo Grove, and the art in it, is an important memory of a people.
Preserving this memory is to bequeath an important legacy for the generations after us, so they not live in a sad condition of identity amnesia.”
Organizers said the Susanne Wenger Adunni Olorisha Trust (AOT) has completed seven major restorations to date and it is based on that solid track record, the Trust projects that within five years the artists can restore all the remaining works of art in the UNESCO site and, quite importantly, train the next generation of restoration artists.
“In order to develop further awareness of this important period of art heritage in Osogbo, the
AOT will also restore Susanne Wenger’s remarkable Brazilian style house which contains her personal art collection. The house will become a ‘living’ Learning Center that will promote Osogbo art, the legacy of Susanne Wenger & Ulli Beier, and establish an art residency Programme,” Troy said.
She expressed optimism that the benefits of this restoration project, to the community and country, are many and these she said, include, conservation of art and heritage in Nigeria’s UNESCO World Heritage
Site, youth training and employment of the next generation of Osogbo artists and artisans, employment and economic development through enhanced tourism, establish a foundation for increased promotion of art, providing education and awareness of this unique art legacy within Nigeria and internationally as well as protect the environment in this unique unspoiled forest.
“These works must be used to rally and inspire generations of Nigerians, to remind us that we are a people with worthy cultural and historical achievements, from which we can draw a sense of identity and pride,” Akinsanya said.
Attendees at the event appreciated the specially curated exhibition, purchased artworks to support the campaign, and joined in the conversation about the importance of heritage art. Veterans including Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, Victor Ekpuk  and Peju Alatise, all spoke as guest speakers at the event.