handedly created a cultural revolution in post-colonial Yorubaland,
promoting two generations of artists to develop new styles, new
genres, new themes on their own terms. He gave birth to the Osogbo
Arts School, made the Upper Osun region come alive as a cultural and
creative hub, and organized exhibitions and performances in Nigeria
and abroad to promote Yoruba artists. And, he "gave" us Adunni (his
former wife) who in turn made Osun Osogbo grove what we are building
on today. He joined hands with others to make Yoruba mythologies,
folklores, and other genres of Yoruba philosophy the pivot for
theorizing about our common humanistic experience.
Erin wo, ajanaku sun bi oke. Kare o Ulli omo Beier, the one who so
well mastered the Yoruba arts of masking and turned himself into
Obotunde Ijimere.
We will not be sad that you have departed us. It was time to go. You
have done the work. We are glad and grateful for what you have done
for us, in our land, your land. Let's roll out the drums and the music
to celebrate a life well spent. Akanda eda, oko Georgina. Itinerant
scholar oko Adunni. Mo jokun, mo jekolo, ohun ti wo ba nje lajule orun
ni o mo ba won je. Greet Moronfola, greet Akande Ogun baba Adisa,
greet Duro Ladipo, greet Adunni for me when you reach alede orun. Your
legacies shall live on.
Akin Ogundiran
Professor of Africana Studies
UNC Charlotte
On Apr 3, 12:05 pm, Shola Adenekan <sholaadene...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> This is sad, sad news! Ulli is a giant among giants. A man who was not
> pretentious and a great example to us all. He'll be greatly missed!
>
> Regards,
>
> Shola
>
> http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/5687071-147/ulli...
>
> Linguist behind the development of the Osogbo Art Movement Uilli Beier, is
> dead, he died today, April 3 2011, at 88 years old in his residence in
> Annandale, Sydney Australia after a protracted illness.
>
> Born in Germany in 1922, Ulli came to Nigeria in 1950, he was married to the
> renowned Austrian artist and later high priestess of the Osun Groove in
> Oshogbo Suzanne Wenger. He joined the Extra Mural Studies Department at the
> then University College Ibadan, he Later travelled to several Yoruba towns
> and villages organizing classes for the willing participants. After living
> in Ede and Ilobu, Ulli settled in Osogbo in 1958. Known for his passion for
> Yoruba arts and culture, as a literary person, He helped publish books on
> Yoruba festivals and religion. He co-founded the Mbari-Mbayo Artists and
> Writers Club together with Late Duro Ladipo of 'Oba-Koso' fame. He was once
> the Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ife before
> he left Nigeria for Papua New Guinea. His works now dominate the collections
> at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo.
--
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