Renowned wood sculptor, Bisi Fakeye was from the renowned Fakeye family of wood carvers and sculptors. He shared his path to career excellence with Ireho Aito.

“I actually parted ways with my mentor and superior who was a superstar then -Lamidi Fakeye, simply because of the burning desire in me to go solo. My brother Lamidi did not like the idea. Infact, he felt slighted and told me I was too forward with my ambition.

Then, I had no choice but to hit the road and started hawking my artworks around the island of Lagos, precisely Victoria Island and Ikoyi barefooted in the 60’s, from my Mabo neighborhood in Surulere.

I would walk and hawk long distance to attract the type of people who would buy my artworks.

Then, one day, while hawking, I  had an encounter by chance with an expatriate who loved my artworks and introduced me to Goethe Institut. At Goethe, I discovered everything works.

For me, everything became perfect and I started smiling. Goethe supported me through exhibitions and I was part of the Nigerian selected artists that made the trip to Germany.”

The late wood sculptor Bisi Fakeye in conversation with Ireho Aito

Interview /words /Ireho Aito /photographs /artworks/ Google