Ìlàrí Sàngó

Ìlàrí simply means a “palace delegate” or “court messenger” in the palace of the Aláàfin or King of Oyo. Thus, Ìlàrí Sàngó could be described as a loyal court messenger of Sàngó, the fourth mythical king of the old Oyo empire and a powerful Orisa, deity in Yoruba chronology. As court servants loyal to the king they served as royal guards, messengers, tax/toll collectors, cavaliers and diplomatic observers upon the king’s command or request. Fakeye, in a usual fashion, shows his excellence in the use of this medium to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. Notice the similarity in outlook (the necklace, the dress, and the hair style) between the sculptures of the Ìlàrí and that of Sàngó. The incision of intricate details on the body of the forms gives the piece a great aesthetic appeal for all its viewers. Fakeye also shows his extraordinary level of creativity and class in the carving of the chain, a feature which elevates the finishing of the work to a masterpiece.