The Carver Among Us: Lamidi Olonade Fakeye
"" Main Meet the Artist Doors and Posts Plaques Figures Stages of Carving
  [Introduction]
[A Life in a Name]
 [A Family of Woodcarvers] [Carving a Place in History]  

 

A Life in a Name

Portrait of Lamidi Olonade Fakeye carvingLamidi is a short form of the Moslem name Abdul Hammed. He converted to Islam as a young man.

Olonade, meaning “the carver has arrived,” was given to him at birth. It aptly foretold his artistic destiny.

Fakeye is an honorific title given by the king of Ila to Lamidi’s great-grandfather, Olawoyin, who was a renowned sculptor and diviner. His descendants were given the right to the title, and they use Fakeye as the family name.
     
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1928

Lamidi Olonade Fakeye born in Ila Orangun, Nigeria.
1938 Carves his first sculpture and apprentices to his father.

1949 Begins apprenticeship to master sculptor George Bamidele Arowoogun.

1955 Takes his first job as an art instructor at Holy Cross Primary School (Lagos, Nigeria).

1960 First son is born and first solo exhibition opens at British Council (Nigeria).

1962 Serves as artist-in-residence at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

1964 Elected president of Society of Professional Artists of Nigeria; exhibit opens at United States Information Service (Nigeria).

1971 Exhibit of three generations of Fakeye woodcarvers opens (Ibadan, Nigeria).
1973 Received commission for Kennedy Center Africa Room doors (Washington, D.C.).

1978 Appointed to the faculty of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria).

1987 Unveils Oduduwa statue at University of Ife; retrospective opens at Western Michigan University gallery.

1989 Awarded Oyo State, Nigeria, Special Merit Award.

1989 Serves as artist-in-residence at universities in Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.

1995

Makes pilgrimage to Mecca.
1996 Publishes autobiography; retrospective exhibit opens at Hope College (Holland, Michigan).

1999 Appointed Kellogg Visiting Artist for Michigan; Smithsonian retrospective exhibit opens.