{"id":368077,"date":"2011-04-04T23:10:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-04T23:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/04\/osun-artists-mourn-german-scholar-ulli-beier\/"},"modified":"2011-04-04T23:10:00","modified_gmt":"2011-04-04T23:10:00","slug":"osun-artists-mourn-german-scholar-ulli-beier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/04\/osun-artists-mourn-german-scholar-ulli-beier\/","title":{"rendered":"Osun, artists mourn German scholar Ulli Beier"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Nigerian artists and the government \u00a0of Osun State are mourning the late German art scholar, Prof. Ulli Beier, \u00a0who died on \u00a0Sunday in his home in Annandale, Sydney, Australia after a protracted illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was 90.<\/span><\/p>\n

A statement by Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, office of the governor said:\u201cBier\u2019s death has dug a hole in the history of mankind that will take some hard time to fill.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe appreciate his decision to utilize his ability to shape the course and engender the preservation of man\u2019s progress through the theatre of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than 40 years, his contact with Africa, the Nok Culture and Yoruba civilization became a hugely engaging revelation that shamed pessimists and further strengthened the capacity of the Black man to secure a place of his in the history of mankind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlong with Susane Wenger, \u00a0Bier, who was better known as a Black man in white skin, assisted the anthropological evolution, historical relevance, artistic creativity and emergence of first class artists of different genre in Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was through his efforts that artistic titans like Duro Ladipo (Sango), Jimoh Buraimoh and others were unleashed on the world to showcase the potential of people that were not recognized as part of history. He encouraged the production of Oba Koso, a world class drama that confirmed the sophistication of African people before the advent of colonialists.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the formation of the Centre for Black Culture and Civilization and the recognition of Osun Osogbo by UNESCO, Ulli Bier played the role of a giant and a honourable man. These and other roles mark<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike all mortals, Ulli Bier, a cultural titan, has gone to the land of the spirits but his giant footprints remain indelible and matchless in the character of great minds that shaped the course of mankind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis documentation of events that happened at a critical time of our people\u2019s resistance against domination, oppression and colonialism are awesome enough to make him live in our memory. \u00a0May his tribe continue to come into our land for the good of man and the benefit of mankind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founder of Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya described Beier\u2019s death as a big loss to Nigerian, African and world art, saying \u201cone would have thought he would live longer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He however, said we should give thanks to God for his life as he impacted on many Nigerian artists\u2019 life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI fashioned my workshop direction after what he did. He and his wife, Susan Wenger, have helped in no small way to open more heritage sites in the country to the world. He left big legacies and hope they will last forever,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leading art collector and founder of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) ,Prince Yemisi Shyllon described the death of the former director of Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth University, Germany \u00a0as end to an era. He said the late artist contributed to the greatness of Nigerian art and culture as he helped the careers of many Nigerian artists like Muraina Oyelami and Twins Seven Seven. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of us are celebrating him in death,\u201d Shyllon said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former president of Society of Nigerian Artist, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo said but for Beier there would not have been the likes of the great artists from the Osogbo school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He recalled that Beire\u2019s wish was \u00a0to die in Nigeria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Born in Germany in 1922, Beier came to Nigeria in 1950. Along with the famous Austrian artist, Susanne Wenger, he joined the Extra Mural Studies Department at the then University College Ibadan. Later he travelled to several Yoruba towns and villages organising classes for the willing participants. After living in Ede and Ilobu, Beier settled in Osogbo in 1958.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Known for his passion for Yoruba arts and culture, as a literary person, he helped publish books on Yoruba festivals and religion. Along with Gerald Moore, an Englishman, who taught extra-mural classes in Eastern Nigeria, Beier made his presence felt on the continent, translating and publishing modern African writingsfrom David Mendessa Diop to Leopold Sedar Senghor, and even some Yoruba poems. He also played a fundamental role in the conception and nurturing of the world famous Osogbo school of artists along with influential playwright and gifted composer Duro Ladipo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The founding editor \u00a0of Black Orpheus, Africa leading literary magazine, he co-founded the Mbari-Mbayo Artists and Writers Club together with the late Duro Ladipo of \u2018Oba-Koso\u2019 fame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He was the Director of the Institute of African Studies, \u00a0University of Ife before he left Nigeria for Papua, New Guinea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His works now dominate the collections at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo.<\/span><\/p>\n

In \u00a0an interview, he recalled his life in Nigeria and many encounters with other famous writers and artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole activity in Nigeria in the I960s was basically to help people get a better identity by pointing out what wonderful culture they have. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I moved out from the university campus, I was giving extra-mural classes in Oyo. On the way, I used to stop in a little town called Fiditi. ..Then, when the Mbari Club started, I started something called Mbari publications which subsequently published his first two volumes of poetry Heavensgate and Limits,\u201d Beier said. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He became deeply immersed in Yoruba culture and worldview, earning himself names like Obotunde Ijimere, Sangodare Akanji and Omidiji Aragbabalu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His close friends boldly refer to him as the German-born Yoruba man which he relishes with pride.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the translations he did, he said: \u201cIn a sense, it was necessary for me to do the translations because when I started teaching African literature and extra-mural classes, there wasn\u2019t that much African literature coming out of Nigeria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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\nOsun, artists mourn German scholar Ulli Beier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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