African Blues: Gasali Adeyemo
Gasali Adeyemo is from the small village, Ofatedo, located in Nigeria. His mother was his first and most important teacher in learning the traditional arts of the Yoruba Tribe. In 1990 he attended the Nike Center for Arts and Culture, where he remained for a total of six years studying traditional Yoruba batik, adire eleko, tie-dye and indigo. Eventually he was given the opportunity to exhibit his work and travel outside of Nigeria. Since then, Gasali has been traveling the world conducting workshops and exhibitions.
Gasali Adeyemo will be speaking at our upcoming online symposium, Irresistible, on Saturday 8 June 2024. Book your tickets here. We spoke to him about his journey and stories in textiles and, in particular, how he learn the craft of traditional Yoruba batik.
What was your first memory of a textile?
My first memory of textiles was when I saw my grandparents wearing indigo robes in the morning before they started their daily jobs.
Can you put into words what you love about textiles?
What I like about textiles is how they tell the history of my culture and represent my identity in Yoruba culture.
Where is your most inspiring space to create?
The most inspiring place for me to make my textiles is my community in Nigeria where I grew up because of the vibe and the energy that I feel there.
What has inspired you recently?
I was in Lagos, Nigeria with my son and we were walking down the street. I kept seeing posters for a movie called The Woman King and it sounded familiar. Then later we went to the movies and when I sat in front of the big screen I realised that my fabric was being worn by the actors in the movie.When I made the fabric I didn’t know anything about the movie that I made it for. As I sat there watching the movie I felt so joyful and happy and very proud of myself.
What is your most cherished textile, and why?
My most cherished textile is a piece of my mothers adire clothing. It was one of my mothers favourites that she wore all the time. And after she passed away I kept the piece for myself because it holds lots of memories of my mom. Every day when I sit in my studio I look at the piece, it makes me feel like my mother is around me.
Where did you learn your craft?
My mother was my first teacher. She taught me as a young kid how to prepare cassava and told me the stories behind the traditional adire and tie - dye designs. When I was older I continued my journey at Nike Center For Art And Culture there I studied and learned about batik, quilt making, applique, and indigo.
Images courtesy of Gasali Adeyemo
Gasali Adeyemo will be speaking at our upcoming online symposium, Irresistible, on Saturday 8 June 2024. Book your tickets here.
Gasali Adeyemo will be speaking at our upcoming online symposium, Irresistible, on Saturday 8 June 2024. Book your tickets here. We spoke to him about his journey and stories in textiles and, in particular, how he learn the craft of traditional Yoruba batik.
What was your first memory of a textile?
My first memory of textiles was when I saw my grandparents wearing indigo robes in the morning before they started their daily jobs.
Can you put into words what you love about textiles?
What I like about textiles is how they tell the history of my culture and represent my identity in Yoruba culture.
Where is your most inspiring space to create?
The most inspiring place for me to make my textiles is my community in Nigeria where I grew up because of the vibe and the energy that I feel there.
What has inspired you recently?
I was in Lagos, Nigeria with my son and we were walking down the street. I kept seeing posters for a movie called The Woman King and it sounded familiar. Then later we went to the movies and when I sat in front of the big screen I realised that my fabric was being worn by the actors in the movie.When I made the fabric I didn’t know anything about the movie that I made it for. As I sat there watching the movie I felt so joyful and happy and very proud of myself.
What is your most cherished textile, and why?
My most cherished textile is a piece of my mothers adire clothing. It was one of my mothers favourites that she wore all the time. And after she passed away I kept the piece for myself because it holds lots of memories of my mom. Every day when I sit in my studio I look at the piece, it makes me feel like my mother is around me.
Where did you learn your craft?
My mother was my first teacher. She taught me as a young kid how to prepare cassava and told me the stories behind the traditional adire and tie - dye designs. When I was older I continued my journey at Nike Center For Art And Culture there I studied and learned about batik, quilt making, applique, and indigo.
Images courtesy of Gasali Adeyemo
Gasali Adeyemo will be speaking at our upcoming online symposium, Irresistible, on Saturday 8 June 2024. Book your tickets here.