Death Of Twin Seven Seven: ‘Nigeria has lost a gem’

Death of the late Chief Olaniyi Osuntoki a.k.a Twin Seven Seven, has been described as another big blow to Nigeria's entertainment community.
The duo of Professor Tunde Babawale, Director General of the Centre for Black and African  Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), and Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), said his death was an indication that the arts community in Nigeria was fast losing its key players, and that time had come for  government at all levels to immortalize fallen heroes.

Babawale said his death was another tragic blow to the arts and culture community a few days after ex-Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Tayo Aderinokun, who was a strong arts enthusiast and collector, died.   Twin Seven Seven was revered across the world for his artistry and recognized by UNESCO as a torch bearer. His words, "Our hearts go to his family, hoping that God will grant him eternal rest. I hope many Twin Seven Sevens will  grace our landscape and I wish Osun State government will immortalize his name." 

Ayakoroma in his eulogy said, "Great artists like the late Osuntoki are rare, since he belonged to the Osogbo School of Arts, which trained other talented Nigerians like Jimoh Buraimoh, Demola Onibonokuta, Yemi Elebuibon, Muraina Oyelami and Nike Okundaye (who was once married to the late Twin Seven Seven). The NICO boss recalled how these artists received informal training under the late Ulli Beier and his wife, Georgina Beier, and how virtually all of them later became famous for their creativity.  
The late Osuntoki was until his death a multi-talented artist, singer, musician, actor, writer and poet. He  was aged  67. He died last Wednesday at  the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he had been on admission following a stroke.

Having emerged as one of the most famous products of Ulli Beier's experimental art workshops in the 1960s and following his contributions to the promotion of dialogue and understanding among peoples, particularly in Africa and in the Diaspora, he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2000 before ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was chairman of the African Union.

The ceremony took place on Africa Day. Also reacting to Twin Seven Seven's death was Ben Tomoloju, culture communicator and ex- deputy editor of The Guardian, who said the late artist was a prime mover in Osogbo Arts community. He was versatile as well as a great influence to a number of other Osogbo artists.