Suzanne Wenger/ Adunni in Osogbo

a portrait of Suzanne Wenger in her last years

Suzanne Wenger, an austrian artist, came to Nigeria in 1950 and decided to stay in Osogbo for the rest of her life as she became a yoruba high priest under the name of Adunni.
She worked with her then boyfriend Ulli Beier to create concrete sculptures in the sacred grove of Osogbo, a wood on a hill traversed by a river.
She contributed along the years to reinvigorate the local yoruba art scene in Osogbo. She adopted many children, some of which became famous like Nike.
After a few years in Osogbo she contracted tuberculosis and was cured with the help of local medicine thanks to contacts with Yoruba priests. She was then initiated to Yoruba beliefs and became a \yoruba priestess.

welcome to Suzanne and Ulli's world

Her house in Osogbo has three levels. It is built of stone and concrete. Her bedroom was on the second floor, a simple room with a bed, a collection of fine artifacts and some now dusty books.  The house has a central narrow wooden staircase which leads to all the rooms.
From the street, the house can be spotted thanks to a huge bougainvillea planted right next to the street façade. Some huge cactuses are also creating the impression of mystery which emanates from the small concrete garden whose fences are artfully decorated with imaginary creatures including the flight of stairs leading to the house. Some reminiscence of Gaudi's concrete work in the magic world of Bruegel.

of concrete and stone

The house is pretty much untouched since the death of Suzanne. Some of her children are still living there. The place is full of pieces of art; wooden and metal sculptures. I had the impression to visit the atelier of Picasso in Antibes transposed in a Yoruba context.

reception of the 1st floor

 

Sadly the house is ageing.

Suzanne passed away in 2009. On the day before her death she had asked her children to bury her late at night or before dawn so she could join the earth in peace. She did not want to be disturbed by journalists and admirers.
As a matter of fact, a national burial ceremony ensued. She has become a monument of Yoruba culture and one of few cultural attractions listed in travel books about Nigeria.