USA Africa Dialogue Series - dele jegede on Agbo Folarin

 

Although Professor Agbo Folarin has now answered the call of the Supreme Creator, I can visualize him at the Gate, dressed in his usual indigenous attire as he politely but firmly looks down on a country where he left his creative footprints, telling Baba God,  "I fulfilled my mission." In describing the transition of this gentle but giant spirit, some of us are wont to say that he is dead. While we understand the connotation of such a claim, we must insist that Professor Folarin is not dead. He cannot be dead who has immortalized himself in his numerous murals, relief and 3-D sculptures in a variety of media on key edifices across the nation: from Murtala Muhammed International Airport to the campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University. He cannot be dead who has continued to touch the hearts of millions of people through the display of all the attributes of "Omoluabi." Agbo Folarin has simply been transformed into an orisa! Let us celebrate the life of a personage who essentialized the canon: an artist per excellence, a superb human being, and a creator. Sun re o!

*****************************

dele jegede, Ph.D.

Professor of Art

Department of Art Room 204

Miami University. Oxford. OH 45056

Tel: 513.529.9362. Fax: 513.529.1532

website: 

http://dele-jegede.com

 

--  

Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222  (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue