Representing a Yoruba Oba, and also one of the wise kings for a nativity scene. The artist, Lamidi Fakeye was a pupil of the carver Bandele. The textiles, leatherwork and beadwork have been produced by Ekiti craftsmen under the direction of Father Kevin Caroll of the Catholic Mission. The beadmaker, Adeshina, was beadmaker to the Asileke of Efon, Efon being the main centre in Nigeria for the making of beaded crowns.

John Danford spent the majority of his professional life working for the British Council in West Africa. He spent 11 years as the representative in Ibadan, Nigeria, his arts education providing him with the insight to encourage and develop the arts in Nigeria. For his achievements in this area he was awarded an OBE in 1953. He occupied three further posts in Trinidad, Manchester and Sierra Leone before illness forced him into retirement. In 1964 a large portion of his West African arts collection was loaned to the University of Birmingham before being purchased in 1975, forming the nucleus of the Danford Collection of West African Art and Artefacts.

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