GIVING BACK TO THOSE WHO GAVE TO US

 One man and his lustrous sculpting of clay 

gave SC State a meaningful gift last Tuesday 

morning. Celebrating black history month with a meaningful beginning.

Tolulope Filani has been anticipating the day he gets to reveal 

three sculptures he has been working on since 2014.

Tolu Filani was born and raised in Nigeria. In 1968 he won first prize in the UNESCO-organized international children's art competition. while in high school he produced art so well that his principal hired a teacher and Dr. Filani ended up on television for ten years. He attended Yabba College of Technology earning his OND and HND with a major in sculpting. 

 

In the year 1981, he won his first major commission and by 1968 he secured a USAID Sponsorship that allowed his to study at the University of Missouri in Columbia where he earned a master's degree.

He eventually returned to Nigeria only to relocate to the USA permanently.

In 2003 he obtained his Ph.D. in art which allowed him to take place as the chair of the Department of Art at South Carolina State. 

After all his travels Dr. Filani started at South Carolina State University in 2006. He started sculpting the three men back in 2014 after he walked around the state and there was no art. No history about the school that makes them significant. " it's worthless if you complain and don't contribute anything.

So, he did something that we all will remember even after we have graduated, as astatic as you might think Dr. Filani was he was quite humble really. It's like he gave the community of Orangeburg life he brought back the realization that we have overcome so much, and we still have a long way to go " To be honest it's not about me I just see myself as a tool to project the attributions to the Individuals who gave us the space today." said Filani, and I agree because with the creativity of others and the compassion, we as people can make things greater than what they already are.

Every day is a new day to be in the now, to understand history and society "Young or old

whatever you contribute to society will eventually be celebrated."- Dr. Filani 

Encyclopedia of African American Artists - dele Jegede - Google Books

'Fighting for justice': Orangeburg Massacre survivors speak out 54 years after civil rights-era bloodshed - ABC News (go.com)

Orangeburg Massacre (harambeeacademy.com)