THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II and his queen, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, have unveiled the ‘L’Extinction or ‘No To Extinction’ thorn carving artwork, which projects a message of love for the environment.
The love message and the price value of N14.1 billion for the artwork were engraved on the frame of the artwork by using the near extinction thorn carving that the late famed artist, Chief JD Akeredolu, invented in the1930s.
The unveiling of the artwork was done during the commemoration of the 2025 Aje Festival, which was held on a Monday, a day that is believed to portend commercial breakthroughs and fortune among the Yoruba.
Oba Ogunwusi gave benediction of blessings and economic fortunes of Aje festival on L’Extinction artwork at the Adire Oduduwa Art Gallery a his palace.
In her remarks, Queen Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, explained that the artwork was produced by Olapeju Twins and artist, Olulaja Akeredolu from the endangered thorn trees that have almost disappeared from forests.
The queen said the disappearance was due to logging and deforestation activities by people.
She said: “This thorn carving is the most important piece of thorn carving in history, because it is the first artistic carving that accurately tells us to say “No to Extinction.”
The queen added that the artwork was created to re-invent the art of thorn carvings that late Chief Akeredolu from Owo invented in the 1930s, which is currently going into extinction.
She stated further that the artwork is also to bring back the prestigious aso-oke hand-woven cloths, popularly known as ‘Gbowoyo,’ and which means “expensive cloth that takes all the money,’ which the ancient people of Owo town invented.
“Thorn Carving, which is an excellent illustration of African culture, was invented in Nigeria in the 1930s, about the same time that Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter in Denmark, created Lego wooden toys.
“Lego is now a multi-million dollar toy industry and has produced over 600 billion Lego toys, whereas our iconic miniature tree thorn carving has almost gone into extinction
“The artwork, which is valued at €93 million, as inscribed on the art frame, equates to N14.1 billion, and it is not for sale.
“This value is to redress and level thorn carving that originated from our fatherland, Nigeria in 1932 with its counterpart Lego toys, which was invented in Denmark around the same year,” she said.
Artist, Olulaja Akeredolu, thanked the Ooni and his wife for their support towards the promotion of indigenous arts and culture.
Akeredolu said the artwork is to resuscitate the art of thorn carving, which his father invented and has been forgotten.
He said: “L’Extinction artwork is a remarkable return of thorn carving, and it is an art of cultural and environmental preservation.
“It does not just honour Yoruba arts legacies. It insists on their relevance and high valuation.
“No To Extinction artwork is priceless and is an environmentally friendly arts because trees are not cut down to do thorn carving. Only the tree thorns are removed.”
Also speaking at the event, artist and Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador For Environment, Ms Olapeju Olayemi, explained that the priceless art value stems not just from the reality of the extinction of thorn trees, but also from the status of the princely hand-woven attire in which the thorn is placed and the fascinating backstory of thorn carving and Lego toys invention in 1932.
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