Unity

TOLA WEWE

Tola Wewe, a former Commissioner of Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ondo State, Nigeria and a cousin to Nike Okundaye was born in Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria in 1959, trained and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from University of Ife in 1983. He then went to obtain a Master’s degree in African Visual Arts from University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 1986. He worked as a cartoonist before becoming a full-time studio artist in 1991.

At the beginning of his career, three major influences characterized Tola Wewe’s works the first was his basic academic training at Ife, the second was his master’s research program on the Ijaw water spirit mask and the last was the society, particularly the Yoruba society. His style draws from the Ona symbols of the Yorubas and his themes project traditional lore and myths of the native Yoruba culture. Wewe describes himself more as a witness than an author, communicating with the spirits of his ancestors, and drawing out the invisible spirits – the Anjonnu, Emere and the Ebora – who make the artworks. -I am the vehicle, and they are the drivers- he says.