Aduralere
By Soji Yoloye
127 x 82cm
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This simply means prayer is profitable. What or who is an African who does not pray. The African soul is a spiritual soul and so prayer is at the heart of Africa and Africans.
This piece by Soji again draws from his rich cultural background. He captures this eclectic motif of wild vibrant colours, depicting the dynamism of prayer and somehow manages to capture the solemnity and serenity, even reverence in this celebration of obeisance.
Beautiful Village Dawn
By
66 x 117cm
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If you ever can spend a night in a riverine village anywhere in Africa, please take it. Shorn of the electric lights, mobile phones and all mod coms, you are left to truly appreciate nature and your senses are piqued.
The chirping away of crickets, the breeze moving through the trees, the moonlight dancing and casting shimmers on the mud tents, that is dusk to night. Then the dawn comes. If you can rise early at about 4am, then you would really understand this beautiful picture. The rooster starts to crow, the rustling of people rousing from sleep, the early morning dew on the leaves, the sun breaking in from the east and the wildlife, especially the birds almost exuberant and excited to meet the new day.
This is best experienced, but until then, let this titillate your senses. Just dream!
Breezy Lady
By
81 x 112cm
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Breezy Lady - This is a grand theme, covering nature, life, work, providence, serendipity, faith, and beauty.
One must doff the hat to this genius called Soji, for using his brush to bring to life this amazing piece. There are two faces looking at different directions yet blended into one. Genius!
The movement of the wind, the swaying of the trees, the depth of the image, the light and brightness all add to the mystery of life as Soji so aptly captured. What's your take?
Deja Vu
By Soji Yoloye
127 x 121cm
Just what is says. In a masterful blend of colours, Soji captures that essence of ‘been here before’ or ‘experienced this before’, that moment in time where time and providence seem to favour you and you know you are on the verge of a breakthrough.
This piece ushers you into a deeper immersion and the journey to discovery.
Drummers Return
By Abiona
112 x 87cm
Praise singing is integral to the culture of the west African people. At the heart of this practice are professional praise singers, mostly men, and they have one predominant Instrument, the ‘gangan’ or the talking drum.
So, these men compose freestyle spontaneously rhymes and proses that eulogise and praise their subject, in return for a cash gift from the person they are praising. These guys are so skilled, I feel they would put the best beat boxers, rappers to shame.
The original Cypher! Here Abiona uses his knife and palette again to great effect as he captures these men returning from a ‘profitable’ day out, having delivered spellbinding lyrics assisted with their ubiquitous GANGANS.
Durbar
By Phariz
86 x 102cm
The Durbar festival is an annual cultural, religious and equestrian festival celebrated in several northern cities of Nigeria, including Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zazzau, Bauchi, Bida and Ilorin.
An African celebration with elaborate costumes and horses decked out in the most splendorous colours. They are days where a people group show their beauty as well as their readiness for war.
This piece by Phariz is an attempt to show that the Durbar has been going on for centuries. He carefully ages the canvas ands still manages to bring out an elegant depiction of the horses and their riders in the Durbar.
Ejire
By Soji Yoloye
57 x 128cm
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Twins are called Ejire in yoruba land. It is often believed that twins come with a trade and a means of making money.
So, these twins are prosperous twins, traders, who are decked out in finery and jewelry. The image is set in a diffused prism of vibrant yet well considered hues only Soji does so eloquently.
Flaming Beauty
By Soji Yoloye
66 x 91cm
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Sometimes in the savannah belts of Africa, the Northern Breeze brings in the annual harmattan.
This makes the dawn rather foggy and somewhat dullish, but as the sun starts to rise in the east, the flower of Africa split the fogginess and reveal almost fiery, eclectic mix of colours, so vibrant, you may think that the bush is caught on fire.
This is what that moment looks like on canvas.
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Full Bloom
By Soji Yoloye
60 x 51cm
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Painted in the same season as the fish and fauna, keeping to the style of explosive use of vibrant colours, but deepening his theme, he uses the evolution of the flowers to capture the metamorphosis of a girl into a full blooming lady.
Keep looking and you will be surprised what you see. Soji went into the abstract world yet kept his subject very real. Almost visceral.
Fire Dancer
By Soji Yoloye
81 x 102cm
Fire Dancer, is a vivid and dramatic piece of the various moods and expressions of the African Female fire dance. It is a dance that evokes a plethora of emotions and deep feelings.
The major character is seen in as she transitions from one state of emotion to the other and climaxing as it were in this vivid central portrayal of the African Fire Dance. There is more to this piece than first appear. Happy discovery!
Fish & Fauna
By Soji Yoloye
76 x 51cm
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What a beauty! On the shores of many lagoons in Southern parts of West Africa, you could find some amazing and glorious fauna, simply place there by the Creator. These beautiful and almost frenzied colours of aquatic plants become safe havens for the marine life and some of the most exotic fishes of that region.
Skilled fishermen know that under the shades of these beauties some prize catches abound. In a way it mirrors the hope and anticipation that where there is beauty, there probably is plenty to discover. Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. Some blessed person will have this in their space.
Le Coq
By Soji Yoloye
56 x 56cm
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A cockerel in West Africa is more than just a chicken. It is actually first and foremost the alarm clock for the village. At dawn it crows and wakes up the sleepy village. The Cockerel is also a picture of dignity and honour and a gift that is seen as most honourable. If someone gifts you a cockerel, they are stating that you are held in very high esteem.
Soji captured three individual cocks from his village hideout in Ilorin, Kwara State. They are presented in magnificent colours and somewhat imposing, so you can appreciate the splendour and majesty of this Kingly bird!
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Pollocka's Life Intersections
By
126 x 153cm
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This piece is a very worthy emulation of Jackson Pollock’s work. I acquired this piece from a man from the Northern part of Nigeria at an open market. I did not get his name as I was not sure if he was a dealer or the actual painter.
Who know, he may be lost in the terror that has hit that part pf the nation. The piece is aptly titled Life’s Intersections. A parody on the way I met this man and how we are all connected by different dots and different spaces in life and each encounter leaves a certain indelible colour on the canvas of the universe.
Pollock would have admired this piece, yet I don’t think the painter ever heard of Pollock. Strange how people are connected.
Lady's Hardwork
By
112 x 128cm
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This explosive piece is full of hues depicting moods and sensibilities of the main character. Her world is captured in gentle silhouettes and her mind is also portrayed in capsules.
She is a lady in a man's job, probably a palm tree tapper, she rides a bicycle, and she definitely has style, by the bangle on her upper arm. She is a woman from the riverine area as shown by the vegetation.
But what is most amazing is her sense of fun. She is on her way home from the farm and her mind is on her evening date with that someone special. Sheer joy!
Orekelewa
By Abiona
87 x 113cm
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Orekelewa refers to a beautiful African lady, who is comely both in behaviour and appearance, toast of all eligible bachelors and is generally loved by all. The character of an Orekelewa usually precedes her. A fine girl with class, very hard working, wife material. Very active she likes dancing and playing. She also loves colors. She is very cheerful and loves to smile.
Orekelewa is a cheerful girl. Abiona again delivers with his knife and palette av masterful depiction of everything an Orekelewa should be. This woman is pure gold!
Ragged Twins
By Soji Yoloye
97 x 102cm
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Did you know that Ilesha has the highest number of twin births per capita anywhere in the world? Twins are very special, and we have a few in our family.
This piece by Soji shows the two sides of twins. Very often is when one is down the other empathises and lifts the other up. These twins are beautiful but have different moods.
The creation is ragged, yet you can see the harmony and fusion of colours. I reckon this is a masterpiece by Soji, possibly inspired by twins he knows personally.
Eyo
By
128 x 112cm
ESUA Pronunced Eh Suah. This is what the Eyo's say to people to say I won't hurt you just take off your shoes and pay your dues. The Eyo is a masquerade that is on display only in one city in the world.
The City of Lagos. This masquerade is resplendent in white, and the only distinctions are in the Hats and Scarves for each household. The Eyo play is staged for only the most important dignitaries and on the passing of a monarch or person of incredible stature.
Eyo festival occurs very rarely, and some generations may only have one opportunity to see them. Good a thing Soji captured this in all its glory. Agogoro Eyo O!
Money Matters
By Soji Yoloye
This piece depicts a young lady in deep reflection about her future dreams, yet she sees that only with money (represented by the cowrie shells) will she be able to access these dreams.
Her thoughts are noble and good. She sees herself succeeding in life. She knows she has the potentials for greatness, yet she sees money as the obstacle or the bridge to her future.
Soji once again delivers a poignant, yet vibrant piece that reflects the life of the girl child in many African villages. Money Matters!
King's Day
By Abiona
117 x 121cm
Each year Kings in Southwest Nigeria and across Yoruba land, have a Day of Goodwill towards all their citizens. It is referred to as ‘Oba Gunwa’, meaning the King’s Day of good disposition.
On this day anyone can come before the King with a request and so long as the King has the ability, he would oblige. Also, the King on this day selects certain citizens and honours them and lifts them up in his realm. This day is marked with very colourful displays and pomp. The King invites other Kings from around him to come and enjoy His largesse.
This is what Abiona so delicately captured in this piece. Knife and palette strokes, culminating in a blended motif of hues, that one can only say is fit for a king!
Vibrania
By Soji Yoloye
An abstract piece that celebrates the grey matter. It is a shout out to great imagination and minds that can dream even when in despair. This piece is so powerful, that the more you study it, the more you get absorbed into the richness of the concept and soon, you find yourself in your own Wakanda land.
I want to venture to say, before every major advancement in life, there is a period of inflection and deep introspection. The depth of the soul has yet many treasures, dig deep.
