Suzanne Wenger

ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo, found January 13 at champion-newspapers.com

As late renowned art collector and Osun Osogbo devotee, Suzanne Wenger, breathed her last on Monday, her last wish was to see the grove which she laboured for all her life preserved and transformed to world tourist site.

Speaking with Daily Champion yesterday at Wenger’s residence in Osogbo, one of the 15 adopted children of Wenger, Chief Sangodare Gbadegesin Ajala lamented the decaying nature of some of Wenger’s art works and carvings in the grove despite it recent acquisition by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Ajala who disclosed that Wenger died at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Hospital, Jaleyemi Osogbo at about 2.00pm on Monday said she died peacefully due to old age related illness.

Her imposing residence in Osogbo was a Mecca of sort yesterday as Osun devotees, Oro worshippers and scores of artistes and sculptors trooped to the residence to pay their last respect to the late Osun priestess.

Among the early callers yesterday are the state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Obafemi Fagbola, the leader of Aborigenes Ogboni, Oluawo Adebisi and the Awise of Osogbo, Chief Yemi Elebuibon who extolled the virtues of late Wenger.

In the condolence register, they recalled that Wenger lived and believed in Osun deity and she remained devoted until she breathed her last on Monday.

Recalling how Wenger died, Ajala said on the day of her death, Wenger took her bath and sat on a chair in the hospital where she asked about the date and day of the week.

According to Ajala, when we told her that today is January 12, 2009 and that the day of the week is Monday, she said ‘it is now time to go’ and she breathed her last and died peacefully on the seat she was sitting on.

"In the past one month, she daily devoted about one and half hour to educate us on philosophy of religion and the need to continue to preserve all the art works, effigy and masterpiece that adorn the Osun Shrine"

He, however, lamented that Wenger was unhappy that some of her artwork are already going bad with little or no attention from the government.

Another adopted daughter of Wenger, Chief (Mrs.) Doyin Faniyi, said her late mother shortly before her death spoke extensively about the philosophy of life, religion and the need to preserve the culture of the people.

Meanwhile, traditional rites for Late Wenger, popularly called Adunni Olorisa, commences today (Wednesday) and would be concluded on Sunday.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the National Museum Osogbo, Shehu Adewale described Wenger as a creative artist who joined the services of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments Osogbo in 1970.

He added that the Austrian born artist fell in love with the Yoruba Mythology and creativity and single-handedly built, supervised majority of the art works, masterpieces that dotted the Osun Osogbo sacred grove.

Meanwhile, condolence registers have been opened to visitors at both the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo and the Osun grove.

Mrs Wenger resurrected the traditions of the river god Osun

Susanne Wenger, the Austrian artist who dedicated her life to saving traditional Nigerian spiritual beliefs, has died aged 94.

Mrs Wenger was a devotee of the animist culture of pre-Christian Yoruba gods from Nigeria's south-west.

She won Unesco protection as a world heritage site for an under-threat sacred forest grove in Osun state.

She lived in Nigeria for 58 years, supporting a large group of artists and fostering the town of Osogbo.

In the sacred grove, now a protected forest reserve recognised by Unesco, cement figures loom out of the forest

The grove's few acres of primary forest are filled with sculptures by her and her students.

Susanne Wenger left her mark indelibly on the cultural map of the world

Michael Omolewa
Unesco delegate

The annual festival of the fertility god Osun held there in August attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists.

She was buried in a secret ceremony in one of the shrines at the grove she helped save.

Reclusive in her old age, Mrs Wenger gave what would be her last interview to the BBC in August.

"I don't believe in legacies," she said. "Osogbo is a creative place, it did that by itself, it didn't need me."

Her friends and adopted children said she was the "saviour" of spirit-worshipping traditions in Osogbo.

When she arrived in Osun state in 1957, the practice of worshipping animist spirits had been all but wiped out by Christian and Muslim missionaries.

Thousands of Nigerians have been taking part in the annual Osogbo festival of the river-god Osun. Devotees, mostly from the Yoruba community, congregate in a sacred grove to seek Osun's blessings.

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove Festival

She led the defence of the grove from developers - on one occasion lying down in front of a bulldozer - and prevented religious groups from destroying her sculptures in the grove.

Sometimes a fearsome woman, according to friends and enemies alike, she encouraged Yorubas not to give up their traditional cultures.

For some that meant rejecting even the most basic education, as schools were run by Muslim or Christian organisations that did not tolerate animist beliefs.

Her funeral was attended by the area's three high chiefs and journalists were barred from entering.

"Susanne Wenger left her mark indelibly on the cultural map of the world," Nigerian Unesco delegate Michael Omolewa said.

"She will always be remembered for her impressive works and love of the Yoruba people."

Suzanne Wenger Nigerian priestress 94 years

They are the work of Susanne Wenger and her colleagues. The 94-year-old Austrian has lived in Osogbo for 58 years and has become a high priestess of Osun

How Wenger died, her last wish—Son

Nigeria's white 'priestess' dies

In the sacred grove, now a protected forest reserve recognised by Unesco, cement figures loom out of the forest

Thousands of Nigerians have been taking part in the annual Osogbo festival of the river-god Osun. Devotees, mostly from the Yoruba community, congregate in a sacred grove to seek Osun's blessings.

The devotees rejoice, their bond with the spirit world is renewed for another year, which they hope will guarantee them prosperity and success

Auctions:

Zemanek

62th tribal art auction. 2010 September 4

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