Retired Kisii Governor James Ongwae has mourned the late Elkana Ongesa, a gifted sculptor, as a sculpture gem who put the country on the world map.
In an interview with AFP in December 2023, Ong'esa said he felt African art still deserves greater recognition at home and abroad.
"African art has influenced Western art heavily," the 79-year-old sculptor said, pointing to Pablo Picasso's early 20th-century masterpieces, such as Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, that drew inspiration from the continent.
Despite this, "African art has been left behind," he told AFP in an interview at his home in Tabaka in western Kenya's hilly Kisii county.
His work -- much of it inspired by nature -- has been showcased at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the United Nations in New York and respected galleries in cosmopolitan capitals.
But it still has not attracted the "very high" prices assigned to artworks produced in the West, he said, with neither African nor foreign collectors willing to shell out for pieces from the continent. And that's not the only obstacle.
"The Kenyan government does not give enough support to artists," he said, recalling a 2014 fiasco that prevented his work from taking centre stage at the Smithsonian Folklore Festival in Washington.
Ong'esa had carved a monumental granite sculpture for the prestigious event and was offered Sh1.2 billion (then equivalent to $13.8 million) by an interested buyer.
But Kenyan authorities, who insisted on handling transport requirements for the 13-tonne elephant -- refusing foreign offers of help -- eventually said it was too heavy to be airlifted.
Ongesa died last Thursday while receiving treatment at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital after years of battling Cancer.
Ongesa hails from South Mugirango, Kisii County.
Ongwae described the late Ongesa not only as a gifted sculptor but a true ambassador of Kisii, whose work brought global recognition to the rich cultural heritage through the Kisii Soapstone.
Among Ongesa's most celebrated sculptures is the Bird of Peace, a masterpiece he created in the 1980s, which stands proudly at the gate of the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris as a lasting symbol of peace and unity.
Elkana also crafted the Dancing Birds, displayed at the American Embassy in Nairobi, representing happiness, peace, and the coexistence of nations.
"His works have left an indelible mark around the world, with pieces gracing places such as Texas, USA, and the Coca-Cola Olympics Museum," Ongwae said in a statement on Sunday.
As the first Governor of Kisii County, Ongwae said he remembers the years he worked closely with Ongesa particularly when he took him to the United States in 2014, to participate in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival alongside members of the Kisii County Assembly.
"Indeed, his passion for his craft and his vision for Kisii’s soapstone industry were evident in everything he did," Ongwae said.
Ongwae said that Ongesa was part of the team that also organized the African Stone Talk Symposium in Kisii University, an event that brought together sculptors experts from all over Kenya and the world.
"Elkana’s work and contribution to our unique Kisii Soapstone industry will never be forgotten," Ongwae said.
"He was not only a gem in the world of sculpture but also a true son of Omogusii, a hero whose influence transcended borders."
Ongwae who is the Chairperson of the Universal Service Advisory Council said Ongesa overcame every challenge to share the beauty of Kisii with the world.
"In doing so, he became an inspiration to us all. As we mourn his loss, my heartfelt condolences go out to his family, children, and relatives," Ongwae said.
"May God’s grace and peace be with you during this difficult time. To the people of South Mugirango, Kisii County, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him, we stand together in remembering a true icon May his soul rest in eternal peace."
The known art lover was thrust into fame and global recognition by many of his gargantuan soapstone carvings.
He hailed from Tabaka, in South Mugirango in Kisii, a region with rich deposits of soapstone.
