Maro Itoje interview: England and Saracens star championing African art at newly launched gallery

Maro Itoje scoured London, looking for artwork for his first flat.

Try as he might, he could not find any African pieces to hang in his new home. When his capital quest ended in vain, Itoje and his family resolved to hit the markets on their next trip to Nigeria.

A few months and a successful “pilgrimage” later, Saracens and England star Itoje finally had some artwork to reflect his heritage as his first house took shape.

Fast forward eight years, and what started as a personal mission for his art to represent his life has blossomed into so much more.

Itoje and Khalil Akar’s first exhibition at their brand new Akoje Gallery opens on Wednesday, at Kentish Town’s Spring Studios. Entry is free – vital in the eyes of Itoje.

Maro Itoje

“Art should be accessible to everyone,” the 29-year-old Saracens, England and Lions lock told Standard Sport. “I did grow up with quite a bit of art around me, but it wasn’t such a heavy interest of mine, until 2015. I was moving into my first apartment, and looking to decorate and design it.

"I was going around London trying to find some art for the walls, and for the life of me I really struggled to find some African art. What I could find was way out of my price range!

“I asked my Mum, and she said ‘don’t worry, when we go back to Nigeria, we’ll go to the art market and we can bring some back’. Nine or so months later when we went, I was taken aback by the colour, the vibrancy, the texture and the richness. I felt a connection to the art.

“I’m not too skillful with a brush in hand, but I feel a real strong sense of appreciation of the art. Ever since then it’s almost been a bit of a pilgrimage. Every time I go back to Nigeria, I go back to the art market, I go to the galleries, pick up a few pieces and bring them back to London.”

The Akoje Gallery’s maiden exhibition, A Garden’s Beauty Never Lies In One Flower, will launch in London, but future shows will be staged around the world.

The gallery will produce online offerings too, with Akar, the former director of the Signature African Art Gallery, having now worked with Itoje on projects for several years.

Artists Ibiok Bright, Oluwole Omofemi, Nissi Ogulu, Sara Knights, Dotun Popoola, Olawunmi Banjo and Qozeem Abdulrahman will all feature in the Akoje Gallery’s debut.

Itoje has been championing African art and culture through his sizeable platform now for the best part of a decade. The SOAS graduate believes attitudes have changed, but perhaps not far or widely enough.

“It was a little bit annoying when I was looking for art and not able to find it,” he said. “But over the last 10 years I think we’ve seen change in the societal, cultural attitudes towards African art, a stronger sense of appreciation – in music as well as visual art, other creative spaces and even the film industry.

“However, African art is still not valued, or I think, appreciated in the same way as other geographical locations. Through our gallery we want to be a positive contributor to that space. There’s so much talent and excellence, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be seen in such a positive light.”

Itoje’s schedule must be relentless, and yet the man always exudes calm and poise.

Unremitting on the rugby field, Itoje also drives change through his Pearl Fund, sponsoring full education from nursery to college for children from some of Africa’s most deprived areas. Add in his cultural aspirations too, and Itoje’s calendar is packed – but his focus remains unclouded.

“I want to have a positive impact on the people, themes and subjects I care about,” said Itoje. “I guess I’m just always looking at what can be done in a positive manner, to pay homage to the things I believe in and care about.

“Every person is multi-faceted, and the more rounded I am, the more balanced I am as a person. I always keep my main thing as the main thing. I have interests outside of rugby of course, but I am always making sure I’m in the best possible condition to play rugby – in mind, body and soul.”

Itoje’s co-founder Akar hailed the England star’s full commitment to his art initiatives – and also to use his platform to positive effect.

“What struck me when I first met Maro was how clever he actually is, and that he will always challenge things,” Akar said. “This is a big, big passion for him. Obviously he does a lot of good already, and just the rugby itself brings a lot of joy.

“For the artists here though, hopefully they have a chance to reach new heights they might otherwise not have before.

“For Maro to be willing to use his platform to engage in every way is amazing. It’s great to have so many different worlds coming together. Hopefully with everything that’s so different you can create something brand new.”