Artist, Akeredolu, gifts Owo kids thorn carvings for Christmas to revive art

IN 1930s, the late artist, Justus D. Akeredolu, while working as a crafts teacher at the Government School, Owo, started experimenting carving with large thorns that come from silk-cotton trees to produce miniature sculptures of traditional life events and invented thorn carving.

At about the same time, a Denmark carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, founded Lego Company to make wooden toys that later achieved global commercialisation and became widely available as Christmas gifts for kids, while thorn carving disappeared.

It is on this note that artist, Charles Olulaja Akeredolu, son of the late Chief J.D. Akeredolu, teamed up with C.O. Akeredolu and Olapeju Foundation Art Gallery, World Environment Day Eco Fashion Week Society and King’s College African Leadership Centre to revive thorn carving and also plant millions trees to curb deforestation.

While addressing children during the distribution of thorn carvings as Christmas gifts to them in Owo during a funfare at the Late J.D Akeredolu’s house last week, Mr Charles Akeredolu, described thorn carving as environmental friendly, adding that thorn carving does not cause deforestation and that it is imperative to revive the art because the thorns use for the carving can be removed from trees for carving without destroying forest woods.

He explained that his father invented the art of thorn carving in Nigeria about the same time that Lego toys began production in Demmark and that his father’s philosophy was similar to that of Lego, as both were building something amazing from hand tools, “so it will be nice to bring back the intricate miniature carvings that are excellent illustration of Africa culture.”

Akeredolu stated further that thorn carving did not develop into industry or a theme park, but many are now on display at the London Museum and other museums around the world.

“Jokes apart, will you pay N250 million for one thorn to bring back thorn carving and plant millions of trees; I have 12 thorns to offer 12 lucky art collectors,” he said jokingly.

While speaking, Ms Taiwo Bolajoko, co-founder, C.O. Akeredolu and Olapeju Foundation Art Gallery, commended the late Chief Akeredolu for his great invention and praised his son, Charles, for transforming several thorns into miniatures of endangered and extinct wildlife like elephants and gorillas to send important environmental messages through the art of thorn carving.

She lamented that many animals are declining in their habitat due to hunting and habitat loss.

Also speaking at the event, Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment and Founder of World Environment Day Eco Fashion Week Society, Ms Olayemi Olapeju, explained that a third of the world tree species are threatened with extinction and thorn trees are among the trees that are endangered.

She tutored the kids that trees are fundamental in regulating deforestation, global climate change, adding that they are also essential to support life on earth as countless species of other plants, animals, and man rely on forest ecosystems.

“Trees are viral for life, helping to clean the air and soak up carbon emissions, as well as providing homes for thousands of birds, insects and mammals. So if we lose the trees, we are losing many other species with them,” she said.

She also informed that the number of threatened trees are more than the number of threatened wildlife.

Master Micheal Taiwo Ajayi, one of the students of King’s College African Leadership Centre, thanked the organisers of the funfare and promised that kids too will put collective efforts in the millions of trees planting exercises.

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