Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has
received Nigeria’s leading and Celebrity Pencil Artist Alesh Akeem who is
currently on tour for his project "Celebrating 10 Kings".
The Celebrating 10 King’s Project which is an initiative of
Alesh Akeem and his management- "The RedAce Company" is aimed at recognizing 10
traditional rulers in Africa with outstanding excellence, and by extension showcasing
the Nigerian monarchical system to other parts of the world.
According to Alesh Akeem’s Management representative,
Olubunmi Adeyera, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III is been recognized in the
project for his continuous effort in maintaining peaceful co-existence between
the citizens of the Yoruba Nation and other cultural denominations in Nigeria.
Alesh Akeem aadded that the Kings are the Custodians of
culture who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that cultural heritage is
being transferred from one generation to another, therefore they deserve to be
celebrated globally.
During the visit to the Palace, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi
III did not only bless the Pencil Artist and his works but also took him down
the line of history being a ‘Professor of Ancient and Modern history’.
The Alaafin noted that as Africa continues to re-write its
history and stride into the Millennium, there is urgent need for leaders in the
continent to begin a systematic documentation of what they have in the name of
cultural property. These he pointed out should include objects made by
forefathers, the monuments of the land and things created by us today that
would become of historic importance tomorrow.
"Africa is opening up herself to the world in a way
that she had never done in the past. We are no longer 'the Dark Continent' and
Africans are no longer 'the primitives’. The civilizations that once flourished
in Africa have become the issue in the Art world today. Hence, the head-count
of our cultural property should be properly and fully documented in this
regard", Oba Adeyemi emphasized
Alesh Akeem also disclosed to the Press that a light of
Celebrating the Monarch, a Life-Size Hyper-Realistic Pencil Masterpiece will be
drawn and presented to the office of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi III as a monument.
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