MOCPED Lecturer, Bayo Okunlola, Unveils Iconic Mural Paintings, Sculptures

By Babatunde Kaka

Arts generally is a medium through which ideas, feelings and thoughts are expressed. In whatever form one may so desire to exhibit their thoughts, the interpretation of such aesthetic works is exclusively resident in the mind of the artist.

Nigeria is immensely blessed with great artists, fine and applied arts to be specific of which Aina Onabolu, Ladi Kwali, Bruce Onabrakpeya and their likes stands out. From time immemorial, several works of arts of Nigerian origin have been at the mercy of colonial invaders. From Ife to Benin, Enugu and other parts of the three major ethnic nations, these precious art works were the toast of foreigners. However, it is heart warming to know that some of these stolen artefacts, relics are being returned back home with collaboration from governments involved.

It is believed that personal experiences inspire artists to express their world view about certain concepts, situations or phenomenon. The inevitable aspect of art however can not be alienated from the cultural practices of a given people or race. The environment, religious beliefs, sentiments and norms are always mirrored in the final production of such artistic works. Simply put, arts and culture are two inseparable sides of a coin.

 

Recently, Ekohotblog witnessed the unveiling of two different works of art, the first, a mural painting of acryllic colour titled ” aye yi ” while the other is a sculptural work with metal medium titled ” jebure “. These art works were unveiled at Imokun, via Noforija, Epe, in the private residence of a MOCPED Academic staff ( Senior Lecturer, Cultural and Creative Arts Department ) Author and Publisher, Sea Art Publications, Mr Bayo Okunlola. The purpose of unveiling the art works, which was done by DEAN, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Adebayo together with his counterpart, a former DEAN, Mr. Adekoya B.A ( Senior Lens ), was to appreciate God for enduring a turbulent and chaotic 2020 all over the world.

” I invited my friends, neighbours and colleagues to come and appreciate God on the happenings in my life especially this year 2020 having passed through and overcome some very rough situations and challenges. I lost my beloved mum during COVID, the lock down restricted my work, as a publisher, thieves broke into my office at Mokola, Ibadan and carted away plates meant for printing, I was ejected from my rented office, the building was razed by fire with loss amounting to over a million naira and to crown it all, I also had health challenges. The year is rounding up, I feel we should come together to praise the lord for his grace.

” I conceived some ideas while building the house and it was implemented irrespective of my travails. I did the sculptural piece called ” jebure, awo olugbebe ” ( supplication ) and a mural painting of acrylic colour titled ” Aye yi ” ( this terrestial ). When I introduced the works to them , they were marvelled because we artists interprets culture.

“Happenings around the world inspired me to create ” aye yi . When I look at the situation around the universe, things are not as it is. Today, it is worse. The issue of universal catastrophe, COVID 19, that affected everybody all over the world is a new trend.

“Back in Nigeria, we are battling Boko haram terror, farmer herder clash, kidnapping, banditary, embezzlement of funds by government officials, religious house criminalities and all other vices. In those days, we know of juveniles being kidnapped but now it has grown to parents. ransome has to be paid, government has to be begging kidnap gangs to release school children. One is scared of travelling or sending children to school because of the kidnappers “, he said.

He described the imageries and symbolisms in the mural painting as such that displayed about three human beings in silhouette watching the disorganized society. He also represented Nigeria, Austria, Africa and other nation maps as distorted with different antagonizing colours which showed the terrestrial state of this world.

“The second sculptural work erected closer to the mural painting was described as a figure making supplication to God to save the world from several calamities and chaos being experienced. This he depicted through the legendary Moremi and her daughter Oluorogbo found in mythology of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization.

” As a believer of the supreme being with a bid to finding lasting solution to the problems, very close to the wall is a standing statue of Olu Orogbo, but it is titled ” jebure ” which in Yoruba parlance is ” jebure awo olugbebe”.

“The figure is a young female praying to God to rescue the world from a very bad state. Back in history, the ife mythology of Moremi and Olu-Orogbo the only daughter. When Ife was facing calamities here and there, Moremi carried her daughter, Oluorogbo to the mountains to pray for God’s mercy. Eventually, Oluorogbo was made as sacrifice and the calamities in Ife stopped.

“Therefore, the historic significance of Oluorogbo and Moremi was reinvoked in the sculpture to pray and supplicate to the almighty God. Not that alone, the four corners have local lamps ” fitila “.

” Some churches lit candle before praying, they learnt that from Yoruba culture because they use to lit local lamps at four corners because we believe there are four corners of the world butit is against science which says the world is spherical. That ” igun merin aye ” is created there for prayers at night with the local lamp lights on. With that, I think people are convinced that arts is an interpreter of culture “, he said.

” There’s no doubt Islam and Christaianity are the dominant religions in the country. When asked about how he’d feel about the perception of his neighbours towards him when found offering prayers at night with “fitila” lamps on, he rebuffed such perception on the premise that he is a promoter of Yoruba culture and tradition deep rooted in the teachings and doctrines of Africanism at the African church.

” As a person, I am not biased spiritually because I know whom I am serving. I was born into a Christian family luckily, African church, which believes in anything African. That is why African church seceded from Anglican church because of preachings against polygamy, taking alcohol, palm wine etc which is anti-African. Palm wine is from God it is natural.

“So, they defended Africanism. And I as a person from African church believe that I should uphold African legacies espcially as a chief. I am the Agbasaga (culture promoter) of Ora-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Why will I shy away from promoting culture? If you think of what people will say about you, you won’t achieve your goal.

“On the wall, there are cowry shells there, these are money spent in the olden days. My children are ” aje butter “, when they saw the cowrie shells, they were scared. I told them it isn’t ” juju” but money spent in the olden days. They have also never seen ” fitila ” in their lives.

“So, if anybody in my neighbourhood sees me and believes I’m a ritualist, I am not, but I am a propagator of Yoruba arts and culture. I deliver papers at different fora on culture. I’ve just started. I’m thinking of the future where this house will become a museum of Yoruba cultural studies. That is my plan by God’s special grace not only here but in my home town, Ikirun, Osun state “, he said.

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