Austrian-born artist and Yoruba priestess. She was unique in her absorption into traditional African religion. After her arrival in Nigeria in 1950, she worked hard to revive Yoruba art and culture among Nigerians who had drifted away from it under the influence of western culture and religion. She also made enormous efforts to protect the sacred grove of Oshun, a forest along the banks of the Oshun river just outside Osogbo, which she turned into a sculpture garden filled with art made by her and others.
In 1959 after divorcing her husband Ulli Beier, she married a local drummer, Chief Ayansola Oniru Alarape. She also adopted and mentored more than a dozen Yoruba children, including the prominent artist Nike Davies-Okundaye.
In 2005, her efforts to protect the Oshun grove were rewarded by Unesco’s decision to list it as a World Heritage site.
Info: The Adunni Olorisha Trust
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