My dearest and beloved brother TImi, I kept thinking about you this morning. It has been 31 long years since you left us yet how could I possibly forget you?
Always defending me, always protecting me, always guiding me, always fighting for me, always advising me and always warning me in the most gentle way: from the day you passed I have never stopped loving and mourning you.
You were the best of us all and I am very proud of your great legacy as a free-thinker, an activist and an artist.
You have become a trailblazer and an institution throughout the world when it comes to photography and art.
A man that was way ahead of his time, you were true to yourself and refused to conform to the archaic, anachronistic, mundane and conservative norms that existed in your time.
The world has changed now my brother and the things you believed in and fought for many years ago such as equal rights for all regardless of sexuality, gender, race or faith are now the norm.
We are indeed living in that brave new liberal world that you had always hoped, prayed and fought for and you have been vindicated.
I love and miss you my brother and a day does not pass without me remembering you and reflecting on some of our fondest memories and your profound compassion and kindness.
Until we meet again, stand and pray for us my brother. We need those prayers now more than ever.
May your precious and beautiful soul continue to rest in peace.
BIODATA:
Oluwarotimi Adebiyi Wahab Fani-Kayode was a Nigerian-born artist and photographer who moved to England in 1967, at the age of 12, with his parents and family after a series of coup d’etats in Nigeria in which his father, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, who was a leading political figure at the time, was almost killed.
The main body of Rotimi Fani-Kayode’s work was created between 1982 and 1989. He explored the tensions created by sexuality, race and culture through stylised portraits and compositions.
He authored a book titled Black Male, White Male and he was the founder of the Black Photograper’s Association in the United Kingdom.
His works are highly celebrated till today and exhibitions of his paintings and pictures take place regularly in various art galleries all over the world.
He was born in Lagos on 20th April 1955.
He died in London on December 21st 1989.