Oyo Artists mourn Elder Busari Olaniyi Agbolade

OYO ARTISTS MOURN ELDER BUSARI OLANIYI AGBOLADE

AZA Artists and Writers Movement has expressed deep shock over the demise of its Chairman, Elder Busari Olaniyi Agbolade.

The Movement’s Secretary, who is also the Oyo State Governor of the Association of National Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) Mr. Adegboyega Tajudeen Abidoye, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the news of his death came as a rude shock.

Elder Busari Olaniyi Agbolade breathe his last in Ibadan few weeks ago after a brief illness,” Mr. Adegboyega Tajudeen Abidoye, said in the statement. He will be remembered for his impeccable service to the arts industry and passion towards painting. 

The Movement prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn the late Elder Busari Olaniyi Agbolade and grant his soul eternal rest.”

Busari Olaniyi Agbolade, a professional painter, steel fabricator was born on 13th July, 1948. He attended A.U.D Primary School, Ila Orangun from 1955-1960, L.A Secondary School, Ila Orangun from 1961-1963. He later enrolled as apprentice under Adegoke Metal Construction Company from 1965-1967.

He worked with Niger West Construction Company, Niger Dam Authority and Uren Construction Engineering Company between 1969 and 1975. In 1976, He studies Aluminium and Copper Artistic Panel Beating under the tutelage of Yekini Agboola, an apprentice to Chief Ashiru Olatunde of Osogbo School.

He joined the Abayomi Barber School of Thought of the University of Lagos to study painting in 1980. He worked with the University of Lagos from 1980 and resigned his appointment in 1993 to become a full time artist.

He has participated in several exhibitions such as Barber School Exhibition sponsored by N.C.A.C in 194, Benue State Art Exhibition – 1985, Lagos State Art Council – 196, “ Man in Focus” exhibition by Federal Department of Culture – 1086, Exhibition of Paintings and Batiks by three Nigerian Artists in Dakar – Senegal 1987.

Exhibition of Paintings, Batiks, Carvings and Ceramics by Six Nigerian Artists with 843 Studio Gallery, East New York, U.S.A from October-December 1988 Lagos State Chapter of S.N.A. Annual exhibition from 1991-2009.

Some of his commission works are:- Portraits of HRH Aholu Menu Toyi, Akran of Badagry, Orangun of Ila, Oba William Adetona Ayeni and other prominent Nigerians both home and abroad. Painting of “Mother and Child” commissioned by 843 Studio Gallery, New York, U.S.A. 

Some of his works (paintings) can be viewed at https://artsfocus.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/electronic-exhibition-of-mr-busari-olaniyi-agbolades-painting-works/. Before his death, Elder Busari Olaniyi Agbolade was the Chairman of AZA Artists and Writers Movement.