Adebisi Akanji Explained

Adebisi Akanji (born 1930s) is a Nigerian artist as well as the Olúwo (Ògbóni chief priest) of Ilédì Lárọ̀ Ohùntótó - the main Ògbóni Ìbílẹ̀ lodge of Òṣogbo, capital of Ọ̀ṣun State, Nigeria.

Early life and education

In his early life he worked as a bricklayer,[1] and first began to create sculptures as part of a competition to sculpt cement animals based on traditional architectural elements in Yoruba houses.[2]

Career

Akanji is best known for his open-faced cement screens and other sculptural work. He has also worked in textiles. His work often illustrates themes from Yoruba folklore. In collaboration with Susanne Wenger, he worked for a decade on the Osun shrine in Osogbo, Nigeria, and is responsible for many of the shrine's sculptural elements.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adebisi Akanji . 7 July 2015 .
  2. Web site: Adebisi Akanji . 6 July 2015 .
  3. Web site: Official Opening of the Arch of the Flying Tortoise, Osun-Osogbo, Aug. 2015 on susannewenger-aot.org . 27 August 2015 . 10 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010608/http://www.susannewenger-aot.org/media/press-release-august-2015/ . dead .