Wenger was essentially a spiritual being. From a very early age, she had been strongly attracted to nature and specifically by trees – in which she was said to have recognised ”the images of sacredness”. ———–The Punch, 14 January 2009
Susanne Wenger aka Adunni Olorisha courtesy geocities
Susanne Wenger aka Adunni Olorisha came, saw and ‘conquered’ the metaphysical world of Yoruba art, culture and heritage. She was a remarkable woman and the most psychic human being I ever met but I will not delve into that… The high (Osun) priestess and artist was very good at interpreting dreams. People came from different parts of the world to meet the reputable artist and idol worshipper but I went to interview her. Her favourite food was not pounded yam but boiled yam with unsalted butter. She devoted most of her life and times to the Scared Grove of Osun Osogbo including River Osun Shrine in Osun State, Nigeria. A foreign airline and government were very kind to her by footing her 'annual' travelling 'bills'.
Why did it take the Nigerian government over five decades to 'recognise' a humanitarian who contributed a lot to the ‘exposure’ of Nigerian art and culture? It will be recalled that she received an award by the present government with the honour of a Member, Federal republic of Nigeria (MFR) a few weeks before she died at 93. She is survived by 15 'adopted' children; one of whom told The Punch that she died of old age. It was almost impossible for a poet to meet her and not write a poem on her or the gods. I later wrote her a poem which she kept in a folder. Poetically, I described her as a living goddess. She was a clairvoyant who predicted some of the things I later did when I was a girl without such beliefs. She was fondly called Mama. May Mama’s soul rest in peace, Mama sun re o… Ase.
Osun is the Yoruba goddess of fertility. In Brazil Osun is Oxum, Ochum in Cuba and Erzulie-Freda-Dahomey in Haiti. She was Sango’s second wife. Oba was Shango’s first wife and Oya was the third. Sango and his wives later became deities. Shango is the Yoruba god of thunder and lightning. Osun was a very good cook while Oba was not. The rivalry between Osun and Oba was not depicted in the film SANGO but the way he met and married (a shape-shifter) Oya was very interesting. It must be emphasised that there were different mythologies and it was 'difficult' to ascertain which was more authentic. The film Sango by Femi Lasode was one of the best epic films shot in Nigeria. Sango’s wives are goddesses Osun, Oba and Oya. In 2005, Osun Osogbo was on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of World Heritage. The annual festival attracts participants and spectators from several countries. It is a spiritual belief that some barren women can conceive after participating in the festival.
God of Small Pox, Clay Sculpture by Susanne Wenger courtesy University of Northern Iowa
