Sangodare Ajala: Artist and Priest

Sangodare Ajala (b.1948) is the leader of the New Sacred Art Movement, one of Nigeria’s finest artists and a true representative of traditional Yoruba culture. In addition to his work as an artist, he is a practising traditional Yoruba Sango (God of Thunder) Priest and Herbalist. Sangodare lives in Osogbo, and leads the New Sacred Art Movement, which was founded by Susanne Wenger, his adoptive mother. As Site Manager of the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove, Sangodare Ajala has dedicated himself to the restoration of the works of art in the Grove since 2008. Without his perseverance, leadership as well as artistic and spiritual guidance, there would be very little left of the works of art in the Osun Grove.