Ilédì Oǹtótóo: during one of many restorations

Built in the late 1960’s and early 1970s on the site of an abandoned school, Ilédì Oǹtótóo is the assembly point for the Ògbóni, Yorùbá traditionalists associated with the Earth deity. This remarkable structure is composed of three enormous roofs which rise against the sky like giant lizards, representing the forces of the earth before mankind.

This building has had many restorations over the decades but had nearly completely collapsed when the New Sacred Art Movement artists, led by Adebisi Akanji, Susanne’s artistic collaborator on all her major monuments, and Sangodare Ajala, the leader of the New Sacred Art Movement, rescued and rebuilt it in 2012.
Twenty-three artists, artisans and labourers worked on the restoration over an eight-month period. The roofs and all the cement walls were completely recreated using high quality cement and iron reinforcement rods and netting. In the past, mainly to save costs, an earthen core was often used and then covered with cement. Unfortunately, water easily penetrated the earth and over time the walls collapsed.