{"product_id":"yoruba-figure-by-dejo-fakeye-nigeria-rohner-collection-157297","title":"Yoruba Figure by Dejo Fakeye Nigeria Rohner Collection","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcellent condition and detailed carving! The artist is Dejo Fakeye.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eA stunning, intricately detailed African tribal art sculpture carved from a solid block of rich tropical hardwood. This piece strongly reflects the celebrated Yoruba woodcarving tradition of Nigeria, closely resembling the master craftwork of the renowned Fakeye carving dynasty (such as Lamidi Olonade Fakeye or Akin Fakeye).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eThe figure displays classical Yoruba stylistic elements, including deeply expressive almond-shaped eyes, strong geometric facial planes, a beautifully patterned traditional coiffure\/headpiece, and an embellished necklace band. The lower portion highlights classic layered textile folds resting on a robust, hand-incised base detailed with crisp geometric cross-hatch carvings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eAn exceptional addition for serious collectors of mid-to-late 20th-century African art, tribal figures, or global folk sculpture.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDejo Fakeye (1933–2009)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNigerian Master Woodcarver, Educator, and Cultural Ambassador\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDejo Fakeye was one of Nigeria’s most celebrated traditional woodcarvers and a pivotal figure in the preservation and global recognition of Yoruba carving traditions. Born in 1933 in Ila-Orangun, in present-day Osun State, Nigeria, Fakeye came from a respected lineage of carvers and was immersed in the artistic heritage of the Yoruba people from an early age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe trained under his father and later became associated with the influential Oye-Ekiti carving center, where he refined a style that balanced classical Yoruba forms with subtle innovation. Fakeye’s work reflects the hallmarks of Yoruba aesthetics: elegant elongation, composure, balanced proportions, and highly detailed coiffures and regalia. His carvings often depict deities (\u003cem\u003eorisha\u003c\/em\u003e), royal figures, mothers and children, drummers, and scenes from Yoruba mythology and court life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond his accomplishments as a sculptor, Fakeye played a vital role as an educator. He taught at several institutions, including Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, helping to formalize the study of traditional carving within an academic framework. Through teaching, lectures, and international exhibitions, he became a cultural ambassador for Nigerian art, bridging the worlds of indigenous workshop practice and contemporary art discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis works are held in major museums and collections worldwide, recognized for their technical mastery, spiritual resonance, and deep connection to Yoruba cosmology. In 1989, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government in recognition of his contributions to art and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDejo Fakeye’s legacy endures not only in his sculptures but also in the generations of artists he trained. He remains a central figure in the history of modern Nigerian art and the continuing vitality of Yoruba woodcarving traditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: John R. Rohner Collection\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eRohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, \u003ci\u003eArt Treasures from African Runners\u003c\/i\u003e (2000, University Press of Colorado). \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight(in): 13.25\u003cbr\u003eWidth(in): 3.75\u003cbr\u003eDepth(in): 3.0\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e157297\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 157000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52170625483047,"sku":"157297","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_1794_6b897687-ce8b-4df0-9962-db43ea9c3fad.jpg?v=1790273981","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/yoruba-figure-by-dejo-fakeye-nigeria-rohner-collection-157297","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}