Dotun Popoola is regarded as “Africa’s Iron King” for his spectacular creations made from scrap metal. The well-known Nigerian artist regards iron scrap as a symbol of societal dysfunction, but believes it may be exploited to create jobs.
Popoola first expressed an interest in sculpture at the age of four. He pursued a master’s degree in sculpture at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria after learning to paint and sculpt in art classes. In 2015, at the age of 34, he utilized money from selling his car to travel to the U.S. and learn under a tutor who taught him the art of sculpting with iron, according to Business Day.
After a successful presentation in Lagos on his return to Nigeria, he thought he’d found his audience. Today, the 43-year-old’s job is centered on converting waste into wealth, particularly through metal recycling. At the Africa Investment Forum 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco, the artist and environmentalist emphasized how his art promotes recycling and reduces waste in Nigeria.
“My art is rooted in the use of discarded materials like motorcycle tanks, brake pads, car struts, bolts, nuts, and electric generator parts, all of which symbolize the visible signs of infrastructural decay in Nigeria,” Popoola told the news organization.
Although his larger sculptures can take one to two years to create, he is committed to training and mentoring young artists to strengthen Africa’s art community. He has a studio near Obafemi Awolowo University to train future artists.
The pioneer has mentored 400-500 people in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, and aims to reach more talented musicians across Africa. He believes that improving resources for their country will restrict migration out of Africa.
In 2021, Akin Alabi, a video producer and filmmaker, created a documentary named “Africa’s Iron King: A Waste to Wealth Documentary” on upcycling rubbish into art. The film focuses on Nigeria’s electricity issue and the innovative ways Popoola uses his craft to transform rubbish into magnificent wonders.
Indeed, Popoola has garnered popularity both in his home country and around the world. According to Vanguard, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Kusenla 111 of the Ikate Kingdom in Nigeria, was recently presented with a stunning sculpture of a lion at his Lekki, Lagos, palace. The sculpture combines royalty, culture, history, and art.
The artist spent more than two years creating the 14-foot-long, 8.5-foot-high, and 4-foot-wide lion sculpture, which weighs 300,000 kg and is comprised of scrap metals, mild steel, aluminum, bronze, automobile components, and auto-based pigment.
In May, CNN reported that Popoola’s “Irinkemi Asake,” an 882-pound sculpture measuring twelve feet in height and depicting the ornamented head and neck of an African woman, was being sent to the Legacy Museum in Alabama. The museum explores the history and legacy of slavery in the United States.
Popoola’s wife inspired the song “Irinkemi Asake,” which loosely translates as “metals have enhanced my life” in Yoruba. The artist began creating the project in 2022 using waste metal, galvanized pipes, automobile pieces, stainless steel, and wrought iron. It was showcased at the Artmiabo International Art Festival in Lagos. He also treated it with an anti-rust coating and UV protection.
“The work showcases the beauty of Black women all over the world,” Popoola stated about the sculpture. “At first glimpse, you’d see her exquisite contours, raw beauty, and natural force. But it also signifies the sorrow that Black women have endured. Each shattered crumb and butterfly tells a story about her challenges and successes, hardships and obstacles conquered.”
Tera DuVernay, assistant director of Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, approached Popoola about bringing the artwork to her museum after seeing it on Instagram.
“I’ve had work displayed in Dubai, Qatar, India, all over the world — but none of them are in museums,” the artist told CNN. “I told myself it wasn’t about making money, it’s about the fact that the sculpture is going to the best place possible.”
According to his website, Popoola was featured at the 2018 West Africa International Art Fair, “ARTX Lagos.” He most recently represented Nigeria at the Global Art Festival in Gujarat, India, in 2020, Coexistence in Turkey in 2021, and the first scrap art exhibition in Souq Waqif, Qatar. At the most recent Expo 2020 Dubai, his hybrid sculpture stole the show in Nigeria’s pavilion, “leaving world leaders speechless.”
