A controversial artwork titled, The three Yoruba Brothers, by a Twitterati with X handle @olaoluslawn, has become a subject of intense reactions on social media platforms.
The artwork, which many people take objection to, describing it as racist, was projected to sell for between £7,000 and £9,000, but it eventually sold at Sotheby’s (the biggest auction house in the United Kingdom) for £31,750.
While this is cause for celebration, especially in the camp of the Nigerian artist who celebrated his fortune on X, many Nigerians, especially Yoruba, found the work distasteful.
As far as Nigerian Yoruba are concerned, the artwork is not representative of the three revered Yoruba historical figures Alara, Ajero and Orangun, who were considered great warriors in their time.
In reaction to the hundreds of angry reception his work has received, the artist whose real name is Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, did not offer apology. He rather explained the reason for his work:
you lot are fuckin neeks u know and ima make sure my son and my girlfriend never see poverty or stress, ima see to it that all of u that are praying on my downfall so u can witness my family suffer will see, I’ll put it in your faces everyday, watch me.
— ㅤ (@olaoluslawn) March 23, 2024
See some of the reactions:
— ㅤ (@olaoluslawn) March 24, 2024
You’re embarrassing, acting like you’re some kind of victim. You painted literal racism for what exactly?
— Just Me ⁷ (@Libran_Phoenix) March 24, 2024
Ayy man. Just don’t name your shit for clout next time. Nobody wants to see you poor. Your painting simply has nothing visually connecting the art to the Yoruba culture or people. Do better.
— Liberal Nigerian (@LiberalNigerian) March 24, 2024
Boy bye. At the end of the day your landlord is a white man. If you send your child to a private school that money will go to a white man. You will make money just to give to the white man. None of that money will ever be yours to keep.
— Nima (@nimaintaipei) March 24, 2024
This was literally you guy idk what you’re yapping about, you done deh fall hand since deh come nobody deh after your bread but atleast get some self worth and recognize that your work fuels racismhttps://t.co/1jhbiAb3dU
— @chuba📊 (@Wolfswinkel12) March 24, 2024
Some did a timeline collage of his activities:
https://t.co/ujUugn7G1c pic.twitter.com/fOgSUh197b
— 🪬Oluwadavid van Bengal-Macrobia🪬 (@devasattva) March 23, 2024
You’re a fucking sellout 🤡 pic.twitter.com/arE89xk371
— Matthew Ellis Private (@atasteofmattt) March 24, 2024
Meanwhile, to rub it in on his critics, Akredolu-Ale tweeted back:
I don’t know what you guys are doing but the people from Sothebys just called saying they wanna set up another auction, there’s load of people calling them about the work,
You guys are literally the best ❤️— ㅤ (@olaoluslawn) March 24, 2024
In another reaction, he said,
i ain’t never seen this many nigerians discussing art before, I’ll hate to come and do and exhibition in Lagos I think
— ㅤ (@olaoluslawn) March 24, 2024
Meanwhile, some people see him as an inspiration, such as this one:
Oluwa Slawn and his lovely Family
Thanks for inspiring us. @olaoluslawn https://t.co/LfQ6uzzZHU pic.twitter.com/Pi7SnfcM6d
— Julie 💚 🤍 💚 (@JuujuGirl) March 24, 2024
