By Dorcas Elusogbon
Olori Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, the wife of the Ooni of Ife, has unveiled a N14 billion L’Extinction (No to Extinction) artwork as part of her efforts at reviving thorn carving tradition.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the unveiling took place at the Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife, on Monday as part of the ongoing Aje Festival celebrations.
Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi explained that the artwork, created by artists Olapeju Twins and Olulaja Akeredolu, was carved from the endangered thorn tree, a once-abundant species now threatened by deforestation and logging.
Ooni’s Queen attributed the disappearance of the artwork to logging and deforestation activities.
“It is the most important piece of thorn carving in history because it is the first artistic carving that accurately tells us to say “No to Extinction,” Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi said.
She emphasised on the historical and cultural significance of thorn carving, a unique art form pioneered in the 1930s by renowned artist, Chief Justus Akeredolu from Owo, Ondo State, which is currently going into extinction.
“Thorn carving, which is an excellent illustration of African culture, was invented in Nigeria in the 1930s, about the same time that Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter in Denmark, created lego wooden toys.
“Lego is now a multi-million dollar toy industry and has produced over 600 billion Lego toys, whereas our iconic miniature tree thorn carving has almost gone into extinction.
“The inscription of €93 million, which equates to N14.163 billion is to redress and level thorn carving that originated from our fatherland Nigeria with its counterpart lego toys, which was invented in Denmark in 1932,” she stated.
She maintained the unveiling was also to redress thorn carving that originated from Nigeria, and bringing it to level of its counterpart, lego toys, which started in Denmark in 1932.
Speaking, the artist, Olulaja Akeredolu thanked Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, for her support towards the promotion of indigenous Nigeria’s arts and culture.
He said that `No to Extinction’ or ‘L’Extinction’ artwork was to resuscitate the art of thorn carving, “which my Father, the late artist Chief Justus Akeredolu invented in 1930s and has been forgotten.”
He said that L’Extinction’ was a remarkable return of thorn carving and an art of cultural and environmental preservation.
“It is not just honouring Yoruba arts legacies, but insisting on their relevance and high valuation.
“L’Extinction artwork is priceless and is an environmental friendly arts because trees are not cut down to do thorn carving. Only the tree thorns are removed,” he stated.
An environmental advocate, Ms Olapeju Olayemi, emphasised on the historical value of artwork, calling for the urgent need to safeguard Nigeria’s cultural heritage. (NAN)
