Susanne Wenger, Adunni Olorisa, dies at 94
By Kabir Alabi Garba (Lagos) and Tunji Omofoye (Osogbo)
OSOGBO, the Osun State capital and indeed Nigeria, was yesterday thrown into mourning as Susan Wenger, popularly known as Adunni Olorisa, passed on at the age of 94.
She died at 2.00 p.m. at Jaleyemi Catholic Hospital, Osogbo. She had been bed-ridden due to old age.
The Austrian, who became a Nigerian citizen after her marriage to a Nigerian, one Chief Alarape in 1959 and had since become the custodian of Osun Osogbo Groves, was buried quietly at about 8.30 p.m. yesterday in one of the sacred shrines near the groves.
Her death was kept a close secret to the uninitiated except the monarch of Osogbo, Oba Oyewale Matanmi, high chiefs and the state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Journalists who visited the vicinity of the shrine were prevented from witnessing the traditional burial rites performed in honour of the woman regarded as one of the faithful worshippers of Osun in recent times.
In recognition of her contributions to culture, the Federal Government conferred on her a national award, Member Federal Republic (MFR).
In line with tradition, the Osogbo monarch was represented at her funeral ceremony by three high chiefs including the Ajagunna of Osogbo, Chief Gabriel Ojo Oparanti, Chief Popo Bolarinwa, the Otun Ajagunna of Osogbo and Chief Nasiru Odetola, the Eeesa of Osogbo.
Oyinlola described her passage as "a loss to the entire world."
The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media) and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, recalled that "through her singular effort, the Osun Osogbo Grove had been preserved for posterity and it had also become world renown."
According to him, the late artist "represented a bridge across continents and across cultures. She came from Western Europe in the early 1950s in search of what her partner, Ulli Beier tagged Ori Inu (Her real Essence), which she later discovered in the bosom of the spirituality of Osun."
The governor pledged that "her memories will be kept alive by this government and the entire people of Osun State, who have over the years, seen her as a very veritable guardian and promoter of the culture of our people.
"Sad as her exit is, we however take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and was recognised in her life time having been conferred with a National Award," Oyinlola said.
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Prof. Michael Omolewa, said "Susanne Wenger left her mark and legacies indelibly on the cultural map of the world, and she will always be remembered for her impressive works, love of Yoruba people, passion for the development of the African cultural heritage, and encouragement of truly global cultural village. Although she is dead, her name and her works will live for as long as culture lasts in the world."
The Ajagunna of Osogbo, who paid glowing tributes to Wenger, noted that she did her best in promoting the Osun Osogbo festival, adding that she was influential in the listing of the Osun Grove as the World Heritage by UNESCO in 2005.
He noted that the arrival of Wenger to Osogbo gave an impetus to the celebration of Osun Osogbo festival adding that she employed artists who added value to the festival.
Explaining reason why her death was not made public before she buried, Chief Oparanti said it was in line with the wish of Wenger who instructed that she should be buried immediately after her death without funfair.
''The woman left a specific directive that she should be buried when she dies and that she should not be taken to the mortuary,'' Opakunle said.
A polular artist, Chief Jimoh Braimoh said the people of Osogbo and stakeholders in culture would miss the departure of Wenger greatly.
She has been out of circulation due to old age in the last four years. The last time she was sighted at a public function was in Lagos in 2005 during her 90th birthday celebration. The birthday bash was organised in her honour by her students who underwent artistic training especially in sculpture, painting, as well as tye and dye under her tutelage.
The late Wenger was born during the First World War in 1915 in the town of Graz, Austria.
She studied art in Graz and Vienna where she was part of the famous Vienna Art-Club. After the Second World War, she travelled to Italy and then spent some time in Switzerland where she had exhibitions together with the most famous artists at the time in the gallery Des Eaux Vives in Zurich. In 1949, Susanne went to Paris, where she met Ulli Beier, a German linguist who accepted a posting in West Africa.
They got married and in 1959 arrived in Nigeria. From Ibadan they moved to Ede where she "very quickly became part of their culture." This was where Susanne Wenger met Ajagemo, a powerful Obatala priest and her guru who initiated her to the traditional Yoruba religion - the world of the Orisha.
From a very early age, Susanne Wenger had been strongly attracted by nature and specifically by trees - in which she recognised "the images of sacredness".
And it is in the Sacred Groves of Osogbo where she had integrated her art into nature and where her art is now protecting nature.
