Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation

Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation

Osogbo, Nigeria

The Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation (AOT/F) is dedicated to the preservation of the Sacred Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Groves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nigeria, its monumental works of art and the Yorùbá cultural heritage it represents. It is the only fully protected sacred grove and place of worship for Yorùbá traditionalists in Nigeria.

A group of artists called the New Sacred Art Movement started the momentum to save this 75-hectare sacred forest. They created monumental works of art in the groves beginning in 1960, led by Austrian artist and initiated Yorùbá Priestess Susanne Wenger. A nationwide effort resulted in the UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2005, one of only two in Nigeria.

With the support of our donors, the AOT/F and the New Sacred Art Restoration Team have restored more than 80 major shrines, sculptures and monuments. Restoration artists and artisans are being trained to preserve of these spectacular artistic works for future generations.

The AOT/F is committed to the promotion of Yorùbá cultural heritage, local community economic development, the protection of the flora and fauna in the sacred grove and sustainable tourism.

We work in close collaboration with our partners in Nigeria: The Custodian of the Sacred Groves: His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, the Ataoja of Òṣogboland / The National Commission for Museums and Monuments / The Ọ̀ṣun State Government / The Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding / Nike Art and Culture Foundation / The Susanne Wenger Foundation (Austria) / CyArk (USA) / Iwalewahaus of Bayreuth University (Germany) / Harvard University (USA) and the Smithsonian Museum of African Art (USA).

Find out more about the AOT/F’s work by visiting our website: www.aot-aof.org

Your donations will support our continuing efforts to maintain and restore the works of art in the Sacred Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Groves. Thank you.

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