Ogun and entourage: Restoration Work on walls: Repairs and Training in Progress

This photo is of nine of the artists, artisans and labourers who are part of the 18-member restoration team recruited by leader, Sangodare Ajala, seated in the centre of the photograph. 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, the project aim was to help team members 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 and other fields The decorative wall reconstruction shown in this photo provided the ideal opportunity for this valuable 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 too elderly to work. The Adunni Olorisha Trust (AOT) estimated that at least five more years of work would be needed to save the art, but did not have a young team trained. Many of the older 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 five years. This meant five years of secure employment for team members together with consistent training - 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 himself was eager to mentor others.
A full team of 18 was then 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 from mid-2019 onwards. A huge amount was accomplished during this period, but there is till much to be done. But now there is a trained team of skilled restoration artists, artisans and labourers, and the work will go on.
1970-1980