Art as a Catalyst of Religion in Nigeria

                                               George Bandele       Stations of the Cross
                       Some of the works presented here were found and documented
                          by Irene U. Hanina during a of archival and field research.
Quintessential Art Yorùbá.pdf
Click here for information on the Content Viewe

What might traditional biblical scenes look like in a West African idiom? That’s what
Yoruba woodcarver George Bandele sought to answer in the body of work he created
for the Catholic Church throughout the 1950s and ’60s.

The invitation to use his traditional art training to represent Christian themes came
from Father Kevin Carroll, an Irish Catholic missionary who headed the Oye-Ekiti
workshop in Nigeria for its seven years of operation, from 1947 to 1954. The purpose
of the workshop was to visually contextualize Christianity within the way of life of
the people of Yorubaland, so that they could more easily see the relevance of this
“foreign” religion to their own culture.

To this end Carroll recruited local artists, offering pay in exchange for their
participation in the experiment. Conversion to the Christian faith was neither a
condition nor a goal of artist selection. However, a willingness to learn and absorb the
stories of Scripture was required.
                                                                                    Victoria Emily Jones

                                                                  George Bandele 

                                                              Stations of the Cross
                                           

Christ Receives the Cross (Wood Carving)
Bamidele Areogun Oye-Ekiti early 20th century
Exhibition of Art and Religion Palermo Italy
Photo by Irene U. Hanina
                                                                   
                                                                 George Bandele

The Daughters of Jerusalem (Wood Carving)
Bamidele Areogun Oye-Ekiti early 20th century
Exhibition Art and Religion Palermo Italy
Photo by Irene U. Hanina

Christ is Nailed on the Cross (Wood Carving)
Bamidele Areogun Oye-Ekiti early 20th century
Exhibition of Art and Religion Palermo Italy
Photo by Irene U. Hanina

Jesus Stripped of His Clothing(Wood Carving)
Bamidele Areogun Oye-Ekiti early 20th century
Exhibition of Art and Religion Palermo Italy
Photo by Irene U. Hanina

Jesus with Moses and Elijah (Wood Carving)
Bamidele Areogun Oye-Ekiti early 20th century
Exhibition of Art and Religion Palermo Italy
Photo by Irene U. Hanina



Some of the art works presented here were  documented
by Irene U. Hanina during a of archival and field research.