Stitched in Time

Artwork story

The drummer which is also the central figure in the work of art dressed in Yoruba traditional attire depict the act of paying homage to the continuity of traditions passed down through generations.The thread carefully placed in layers, symbolize the connection between the past and present with the drum as a timeless element binding communities and history together.

I was inspired to create this piece during a return home for the Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, where I witnessed the power and precision of Sango and Egungun worshippers. Their rituals are deeply bound to the resonant rhythms of the bàtá drum, an instrument that is both spiritual and ancestral. In my work, I reimagine this cultural symbol in a contemporary form preserving its essence while transforming it into a visual language that speaks to both heritage and modernity. This piece is not only an homage to Yoruba tradition, but also a gesture of safeguarding a living culture for future generations.