Restoration works: Laborers and Artisans Restoring Decorative Walls

Within the Osun Osogbo Grove there are approximately two kilometers of decorative walls. These beautiful undulating walls, some highly decorated with themes related to the deities, traditional practices and Festivals had all but fallen down when the New Sacred Art Restoration Team began to rebuild them beginning in 2016. As shown in this photo the restoration work requires engineering as well as artistic skills.
This photo is of five of the artists, artisans and labourers who are part of the 18 members of the restoration team recruited by leader, Sangodare Ajala. Priest and artist, Sangodare Ajala was tasked to recruit and train- up a team to restore the works of art in the Groves in 2016. In addition to restoring the works of art, the project aim was to help team members to develop new, employable skills. Some team members have developed as artists. Others have become skilled artisans who can apply their newly developed skills within the construction industry. The decorative wall reconstruction shown in this photo provided the ideal opportunity for training.
Background:
In 2014 the Osun Osogbo Grove faced a crisis. Only two of the original members of the New Sacred Art Movement were active and able to work in the Groves: Adebisi Akanji and Adeyemi Oseni. All of the other elderly artists had either passed away or not fit enough to work. The Adunni Olorisha Trust (AOT) estimated that at least 5 more years of work would be needed to save the art but the AOT did not have a young team trained. Up until this time, the elderly artists had been reluctant to pass along their knowledge and only one young man, Adebisi Nurudeen had been trained in this complex artform.
In 2015 the AOT launched the “Save Our Art: Save Our Heritage” Campaign under the Chairmanship of art and heritage enthusiast, Olufemi Akinsanya. The Trust set a goal in 2015 to raise enough money to recruit and train-up a team to complete all the restoration work outstanding in the Groves within 5 years. Five years of secure employment for the team members together with consistent training were the cornerstones of the plan.
Sangodare Ajala, Leader of the New Sacred Art Movement, artist, Priest and son of Susanne Wenger, took on the challenge of recruiting the team and leading the restoration with the help of his able Administrator, Toyin Ajayi. Adebisi Akanji, master artist mentored and trained by Susanne Wenger for 40 years was part of the team along with his son, Nurudeen, who he had mentored himself. Adebisi Nurudeen, in turn, was willing to mentor others.
A full team of 18 were recruited and, from 2016 to mid 2019, the team worked together full-time. Thereafter the AOT had to slow down the work for financial reasons and the team only worked in rotation, part-time between mid 2019 to present. A huge amount was accomplished!! There is more still to be done. But now there is a trained team of skilled restoration artists, artisans and labourers!