An Aboki’s Craft Shop Reposed in the Chambers of Eko-Hotels and Suites, Lagos

They both sat with brazen faces; each facing the other and starring rascally into each other’s eyes. The one on my right decided to launch the daring attack: stretching his hand to pick his last seeds from the rustic Ayò-olópón reposed between them. He was going to make his final cast. The ambiance was on the edge. It’s a test of wits and aptitude.

“Who go carry last? no be me”, he said

The man on the left became tensed, and takes another gulp of palm-wine from his gourd. “It’s your call. Cast your seeds and let’s see how you’ll fall like the Iroko tree”

Two Benin women spectated the game, stolen away in a stirring world of intellectual war burgeoning before them.”

 

The mid day sun emblazed a throng of ivory, bronze and wooden faces. Their poise exuded the true African beauty and its rarity.

Nearby, a Hausa man carefully and dexterously crafted a log of wood into another familiar figure. The piece had begun to assume the form of a charging bull wrapped within massive palms of an experienced carver. He worked at it with rapt interest, paying special attention to subtle details, as if he bore in mind a particular sensation he intends the art piece to express when placed on the trading shelf.

These figures are his source of daily bread. Daily, they fetch him tens of thousands of Naira- enough money to buy him a beautiful mud house and marry at least two wives in his village back in Kano. His fingers appeared to have mastered the chisels and hammer. He never missed a stroke; and if he mistakenly chiselled a wrong part, it automatically becomes ‘a design’.

Along a corridor nearby, a slim Hausa man cleverly strung a set of colourful beads spread across a piece of damask material supported by a metal tray resting on his laps. He quickly greeted anyone passing-by and concentrated on his business.

This awe-inspiring mosaic of interesting objects and crafts men, naturally transforms Eko Hotels and Suites’ Craft Shop into the choice hangout spot for any adventurous art lover on Victoria Island, Lagos. The shop is conspicuously reposed at beautiful brick structure located at the entrance of Eko-Hotel and Towers, Adeola Adetokunbo Street, in V.I.

The art works range from masks, table-top sculptures, jewelleries, wall paintings and leather works, to large pots and man-sized sculptures; and are of various materials which includes bronze, clay, wood, malakite, ivory etc. Of the most amazing impression is the fact that most of these art works were actually produced right there. Why not go visiting sometimes; an experience will definitely keep you coming back.

– Bronze mask on a Malakite stand- that’s called “amazing”!!!

– Ayò-olópón

– Items made from Malakite (mineral) from Zaire.

– More items made from Malakite

                                                            – Leather bangles

                                          – Bags made from crocodile leather.

– Leather, leather, leather.

– Beautiful leather mats.

– Various art works made from mixed media; and some from painting.

– Wooden masks.

– All woooooooodddddd!!!

– Bronzeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

– Drums made from cow hides.

Art works, Arts, bronze, carver, Eko-Hotel, lether, Nigeria, Sculptures, wood