Renowned Nigerian master wood carver Kasali Akangbe Ogun has been buried following his death last week after a brief illness.
He came from a long line of wood carvers from the Yoruba people, and took the tradition from his birthplace of Osogbo in the country's south-west to the global art space.
Akangbe Ogun was famous for his unique artistic style, characterised by lean, elongated faces and dynamic, flowing forms, noted Nigerian art patron Olufemi Akinsanya.
He was one of the leading lights of the New Sacred Art Movement, founded by the late Austrian-Nigerian artist and Yoruba priestess, Susanne Wenger, in the 1960s, to help protect the 75-hectare Osun Forest and its river.
His carvings are significant in representing cultural heritage and spiritual depth in Yoruba arts. Reflecting on his journey, Ogun stated, I am a dot, just a dot, connecting the past to the present, and the future. He believed passionately in the preservation of the environment and cultural identity through his art.
Union with nature was paramount in his philosophy. We will continue to plant trees because heritage must not be left naked, he emphasized during an interview in 2020. The grove in Osogbo, where many of his works can be found, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Despite his fame, Akangbe Ogun lived a humble life, dedicated to his community and craft. His legacy continues through his works, exhibited globally, ensuring the narrative of Yoruba culture and artistry endures for future generations.
