That Chief Obafemi Awolowo Sculpture Is Beyond Dignity.

That Chief Obafemi Awolowo Sculpture Is Beyond Dignity.

By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju

Drawing Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Agbada with Timberland's boots is an affront to Yoruba culture and history. Draping his agbada like the swag in window treatment betrays the imagination of a toad, good only for croaking. The sculptor may have  spent too much time near sellers of drapery and curtains at Tejuoso market. What is this?

This is mediocrity. This why we are, where we are. A sculptor worth his art when given an assignment of this magnitude will research his subject. He will visit the home of his subject, talk to his family, ask people who knew him. He will educate himself about the life and times of the man he wants to sculpt. He will read his books and educate himself. In Nigeria it is about the money, about cronyism, about favoritism, about execrable standards, it is about just good enough. Unfortunately, Chief Awolowo was a perfectionist. A very disciplined man. This sculpture of our hero and leader is infra dignitatem!