Sangodare Ajala: New Sacred Art: Batik Detail

An example of the work of Sangodare Ajala (1948 - 2021), leader of the New Sacred Art Movement, one of Nigeria’s finest artists and a true representative of traditional Yorùbá culture. In addition to his work as an artist, he was a practising traditional Ṣàngó (Yorùbá god of thunder) priest and herbalist. Sangodare lived in Òṣogbo, and for many years lead the New Sacred Art Movement, which was founded by Susanne Wenger, his adoptive mother. As site manager of the Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Sacred Grove, Sangodare Ajala dedicated himself to the restoration of the works of art in the grovse since 2008 until his death and without his perseverance, leadership as well as artistic and spiritual guidance, there would be very little left of the works of art in the Ọ̀ṣun Groves.