Ọbàtálá Shrine Complex: Restoration Against Erosion

This photo is of members of the New Sacred Art Movement Restoration Team building a new stairway and balustrade leading to the Ọbàtálá Shrine Complex. This was part of a larger project to shore up the earth walls below the Shrine to protect the cliff from further erosion. Left to right are Adebisi Akeen (apprentice artisan), Adebisi Akanji (lead artist), Adebisi Nurudeen (senior artist) and Abimbola Kenny (apprentice artisan). The railing is both utilitarian and decorative, evoking the waves of the Osun River.
When the Ọbàtálá Shrine Complex was created in the 1960s, the road was only 1.5 meters below the complex, which houses shrines to a trio of deities (Obatala, Alájere and Sanponna). Due to erosion and road work over the last six decades, the cliff leading to the Shrine grew to well over 20 meters above the road. The erosion put the Shrine at the top of the road increasingly at risk, also making it very difficult for devotees to gain access to this section of the Grove.
One of the remarkable strengths of Sangodare Ajala, artist of the New Sacred Art Movement and leader of the Restoration Team, is his understanding of engineering. Although not trained professionally, he completely understood engineering solutions to prevent further erosion and how to divert water, which is the main cause of deterioration, away from the cement Shrines, sculptures and decorative walls throughout the Grove. Restoring the works of art in the Osun Grove requires a huge amount of labour and technical ability as well as a deep knowledge of New Sacred Art aesthetics.