Ayan (god of music)

Born 1928 in Ila-Orangun, Oyo state, Lamidi Olonade Fakeye was a fifth generation woodcarver from, what is known by scholars today as, the “Fakeye Woodcarving Dynasty” – a prestigious family whose lineage has been traced to seven generations of woodcarvers, with Olawonyi as its progenitor. Lamidi was the ninth child and the fourth son of Akobi-Ogun Fakeye (c. 1870-1946). At the age of 10, under his father’s watch, he started demonstrating his unique carving skills which earned him the name “Olonade” meaning the carver has come. In response to the social conditions and needs of the environment he grew up in, his early works were centered around Omolangidi, Play dolls and Ere Ibeji, Twin figurines. Activities of the new religion would bring him luck as he went on, in 1948, to apprentice under Bamidele Arowogun (whose works he had experienced earlier) for 3 years at the Oye-Ekiti sculpture workshop, facilitated by Kevin Carroll and Sean O’Mahony (two Irish roman catholic priests). The workshop was founded on the ideology of “Inculturation” which was the “creation of indigenous Christian art, thereby helping a person, through artistic expression, to figure out how to be a Christian and an African at the same time”. This gave Lamidi a platform to learn and create works that explored both Christian and his indigenous Yoruba beliefs. His relationship with Carroll after the workshop led to a series of exhibitions in Ibadan and Lagos in the 1950’s. His outstanding performance earned him a scholarship to study Stone Carving at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France, 1962-1963. On completion of his diploma, he went on to host a series of exhibitions and demonstrations on Yoruba art and culture in numerous galleries across Europe and America between 1963-1966. His first artist-in-residence was at the Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, USA, in 1966. He also lectured in universities in the USA and at the Department of Fine Art, University of Ife, Ile-Ife where he was appointed an Art Fellow in 1978. Part of his famous landmark commissions is a magnificent wooden statue of the progenitor of the Yoruba race, Oduduwa (measuring 13 x 4ft in size), done in 1987, and was specially unveiled at the University of Ife by the then Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse to the admiration of guests including Obafemi Awolowo and other Obas in attendance. He died on Christmas day in Ife in 2009.

Ayan simply means “a drummer” in Yoruba. Drummers are quite known and acclaimed as good entertainers among the Yoruba people. His Some of them combine vocals and dance with their acoustics during their orchestra to the delight of all their viewers and listeners. Evident is Fakeye’s display of mastery and touch of perfection in the finishing of the seeming naturalistic forms on this sculpture. His bold rendition of forms and their parts allow him to creatively decorate them with intricate incisions that keep amazing his admirers. Notice the hourglass drum, Gangan strapped across the drummer’s neck and the raised drum stick, Opa on his right hand. Surrounding him are his cohorts.