How late Austrian priestess, Wenger, preserved Osun-Osogbo groove

Susanne Wenger, an Austrian popularly known as Adunni Olorisa, preserved the Osun-Osogbo Groove through depiction of scriptural images, turning it to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wenger came to Nigeria in 1949 with her husband, UlliBeier, and settled in Osogbo in 1960 where she later became a priestess of the Yoruba deity before her death in 2009 at 93.

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Wenger depicted the ideas and thoughts of the deity through sculptural images which are at the Osun-Osogbo Groove in Osogbo.

Speaking at a memorial lecture to celebrate the late Osun-Osogbo devotee, Mr Adekunle Fatai, the Curator and Osun-Osogbo Groove Manager, said Wenger lived and died for Osogbo land.

Fatai said the Orisa deity accepted Wenger when she got to Osogbo and anointed her to champion its promotion and development.

“That we continue to celebrate the Osogbo Festival today and that the Osun Groove has been enlisted on the UNESCO World Heritage list can be traceable to the endeavours of this cultural icon that we celebrate today,” he said.

He said Wenger encouraged stakeholders to maintain and protect the Osun Groove by preventing poaching and encroachment as well as giving it authenticity and integrity.

The Baale of Gbodofon in Osogbo, Chief Jimoh Brimo, while giving a brief history of Wenger, said Oba Adenle Adisa accepted the groove’s priestess as his daughter when she came to Osogbo, adding that all subsequent traditional rulers gave her recognition.

Brimo said Wenger was given access and control of the Osun-Osogbo Groove by Adenle, adding that she dedicated her life to the transformation of the groove while preventing people from encroachment. (NAN)