Carving with Character
Khaya ivorensis + Tilia americana + Juglans nigra + Buxus sempervirens + Liriodendron tulipifera + Peltogyne app. = Baba’s Tune
Baba’s Tune was carved from African Mahogany, basswood, black walnut, bone, boxwood, poplar, and purpleheart
Babatunde Olantunji was an influencer, social activist, and educator who spoke to his many audiences through musical chants accented by his powerful drum beats. Baba’s diligence in teaching others to seek freedom was evident in his performances as well as his recordings. He birthed a cultural movement with the opening of his Olatunji Center for African Culture in Harlem, New York. Baba’s music transcended cultures and his diverse audiences embraced his principles of shaping one’s own identity to ascend to higher heights and overcome oppression.
This sculpture of Babatunde pays homage to a highly respected drummer who has influenced many individuals from around the world for more than 50 decades. Baba’s expressions while drumming - as captured in this portrayal- are naturally calm and smooth. His drums, typically oversized, are intriguing and never identical. The logo created on the drum head symbolizes Baba’s love for Nigeria represented by the green and white stripes of Nigeria’s flag. The stripes are arranged in a circular pattern so as to represent the drum circles he often performed in internationally, connecting back to his African roots. The “M” is made of purpleheart wood, which is not only symbolic of the heartbeat of the drum, but also of Baba’s alma mater where his journey in the U.S. began.
Morehouse is a connection that both Baba and I share, and is a reason for my passion in capturing the essence of Baba’s greatness in this work
16.5” D x 33.75” H