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I’ll continue training more artists, help my community, Says Jimoh Buraimoh at 80

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By Akintayo Abodunrin

Leading painter and artist, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, clocks 80 tomorrow, Monday, April 3, 2023. The foremost authority on bead paintings and mosaic murals is renowned worldwide, with major commissions in Howell Park, the City of Atlanta and UTC headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. The widely exhibited artist, community leader and mentor reflects on his life and art in this interview. Excerpts.

CONGRATULATIONS on your 80th birthday, Chief. How does it feel to be 80?

I’m delighted. I thank God for getting to 80 because I never knew I would see this day. So, I give glory to God, who spared my life until now, and I pray he will keep me in the years ahead.

 

Why did you say you never knew you would clock 80? Was there any particular incident that made you think otherwise?

Old age is a journey you have never done before, and as you proceed, you see some things that make you happy and others not so happy. There have been storms, but the Almighty God has never abandoned me. I know what I experienced while growing up. I stayed with other families and knew I was treated. My parents had nothing but ensured that I became somebody, not through money but through prayer. I am what I am today through God’s mercies.

 

Looking back on the years gone by, have you achieved all you set to as a father, artist, teacher and community leader?

I thank God for giving me good children; almost all are in good positions. I further commit them to His capable hands. I’m also grateful that I’m the first artist in Osogbo and Nigeria to use beads for artwork. The journey from Duro Ladipo’s Theatre Group to fine art has been memorable. My paintings have gone to different countries, and I set good examples in Atlanta and Houston, teaching how to do mosaic murals. I worked for almost 15 years with the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, City of Atlanta, teaching children how bead painting and mosaic murals. The young ones I trained have also started practising; many of them are on their own.

It’s the same in Nigeria. I was given a grant by the American Embassy three years ago, and I was able to train 50 people in different arts: printing, mosaic, textile and carving. Six teachers joined me for the training. I was happy that the American Embassy trusted me to train other people, and I’m open to others who may wish to support me in teaching more people. The success of that training encouraged me to build a bigger gallery for training, and officials of the American Embassy came to see it recently.

In 2005, the Osun Osogbo Grove was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They said we should have an Artists’ Village. Through that, we can boast of almost 80 artists working at the grove. Chief Muraina Oyelami and I started that with the support of the late Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi, who gave us the opportunity. After Oba Matanmi joined his ancestors, the current king, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji encouraged us to continue. When the Artists Village got burnt, he urged others to help us continue training young ones.

During Oba Oyewale’s lifetime, I was one of the first Asoju Oba (King’s representative) in my area to work with the community. We were initially 12, and then we became 22. After his passing, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, an able administrator desirous of development, increased us to about 63 Baales. I am the leader of the Baales. I thank Kabiyesi for the trust reposed in me and all of us to work with him to move Osogbo forward. As Baale, we were also encouraged to have other junior chiefs. I have six working with me to improve our community.

I supervise the National Museum, Osogbo [which oversees the Osun Grove] in a way. There’s an implementation committee whenever they want to do anything in the grove. I’m the chair through the power delegated to me by the current Ataoja.

 

I sense from all this that you are not tired but still active

Yes, I’m happy to do more for the community. Anything that can make Osogbo move forward is my joy. If I get more grants, I’m ready to train more people in various aspects of art. I’m also happy to continue working for the Osogbo community. I pray for good health because I want to do more in the arts and community.

 

Has your journey in the arts been worth it?

Yes, it has been well worth it. I still get commissions worldwide, and the energy is still there. I have learnt to balance all my interests, and my unique art continues to wax stronger daily.

 

Where is the new gallery you opened located?

It’s at Hotel Heritage. There’s a space there, and I converted it into a gallery. It enhances the hotel as a resort because any guest who comes to the hotel can view the artworks. We used to have music shows there every Friday, but we stopped and converted the space into a gallery. Very soon, I will have artists in residence who will also use their work to train others. So, the hotel has been divided into two; one part is for the gallery and the other continues as a hotel.

We have some arts programmes on the ground already; there will be a monthly exhibition in the space, or it will hold every two months. About 10 artists’ works are in the gallery; they are not just my works. The gallery is named after my mother, Abeke Vocational Art Centre, an artist. I inherited art through her. It’s for exhibition and training for the young ones if we get grants. Arts materials are expensive, and we need to get these and spend quality time on training. That’s why I welcome donations to train people for long, not just a month. We trained people for six months with the American Embassy grant. I’m happy that one of those we trained during the programme is now with us at the gallery. Most of those we trained are on their own and getting commissions.

 

You and Chief Muraina Oyelami are the only living members of the original Osogbo Art School. Are you happy with the growth of the arts in Osogbo?

We are both doing our best to uplift the arts in the state. He has his gallery in Iragbiji, while mine is in Osogbo. Then, those at the Artists Village are part of us. We meet regularly, and these ones at the grove are about the sixth set of artists from the Osogbo Art School. So, yes. Our art keeps growing.

You said you still take commissions.

Yes, I do. I completed one in Houston last year and take mosaic mural commissions in Osogbo.

 

Is mosaic mural still popular? Do your patrons request it?

Yes, people still love it.

 

And you still get bead painting commissions?

Yes, I do. I last went to sell artwork in Lagos about 10 years ago. But unlike in the past when we take paintings to Lagos ourselves, people call now. Patrons call to request artwork themselves. Information Communication Technology has changed things, people pick what they want from my website, and I send it online.

 

Are your children following in your footsteps?

One of my sons in Houston, Lanrewaju Buraimoh, is an artist and has won several awards. The female didn’t take to arts, but all of them are accomplished professionals.

 

What’s that birthday gift you want from God?

He should continue to grant me good health and long life and keep my whole family safe.

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