Sculptor wants African heads of state to purchase his art

Samuel Otieno, the sculptor who models leaders using clay at his home in Seme, Kisumu County. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A 48-year-old village sculptor has set tongues wagging across the country and lightened up- the lives of many art enthusiasts after he moulded caricatures of African heads of states and other prominent Kenyan politicians.

Speaking to Standard Digital on Wednesday, Samuel Otieno who was trained to draw saintly images for his church say he was not keen on art until December 2020 during a talent exhibition organised by Kisumu County Government at Kit-Mikayi in Seme. 

It was during the event that he had a chance to sell two sculptors of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o and Seme MP James Nyikal at Sh10, 000 each after they visited his tent.

Otieno now wants a hook up with the Heads of State he has made their sculptures so that they can buy his works.

The sculptor said he would sell each sculpture at a minimum of Sh500,000 for the heads of state.

Otieno also want the government to train young people art, adding that it will be to leave a legacy through his work,

 “Students in schools should be taught this art and I will be glad if they can see my paints and learn from them,” he noted.

Went viral

As section of social media users faulted his sculptures when they were shared online, claiming that such art was ridicule to the Heads of State.

Some people felt that the busts he had made of personalities such as Raila Odinga Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka bore little resemblance with the real people.

Some critics even suggested that he had committed sedition by making 'laughable' images of the former prime minister.

His wife Millicent Atieno attests that since the art went viral, many well-wishers have reached out among them potential customers enquiring about his work.

“By this trend, it is a good sign that his patience and persistence will finally bear fruits,” she said.

She says the art has been the source of their livelihood as a family:

“He gets bruised since he uses one hand but we support him,” Atieno said.

She is glad that their two children have shown interest in learning the art urging the government to support and nurture young talent.

“We have been able to pay school fees, buy food and purchase school requirements for our children from money raised from selling the two sculptures and drawings,” he said.

His daughter Sheila Awino says the family hopes to learn from their father's resilience and hard work in embracing art and talent.

Journey with arts

The artist has moulded images of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), John Pombe Magufuli (Tanzania) and Odinga, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Woman Rep Gladys Wanga.

A closer look at Samwel Otieno’s art gives a view of an antique shop for long less appreciated and unrecognised even by his neighbours.

According to Otieno, he contracted polio at 3 leaving his right leg and hand paralysed.

At the age of five, Otieno could not go to school but started moulding animals using clay soil from their swampy farm.

At the age of 10, his parents died and he was orphaned but had to survive through his talent.

“I started drawing and sell the images on the streets of Kisumu, where many people were attracted to the drawings,” he recalls.

A father of seven, who also runs a barbershop, uses clay drawn from Kakamega forest and embellishes it with paint purchased from local stores.

With all the material used, he spends Sh1,500 for a single sculpture which takes one week to be completed.

The soil is fermented for a week and then mixed with water.

He works from 10 pm to 3 am moulding and mixing colours and to get the desired outcome.