Regarded as the first Ooni (King of Ife) and the ancestral father of the Yoruba people, Oduduwa represented the ability to affect and reconstruct the physical reality at will.  During  his administration in the 7th century,  Ife was world famous for their art and developed as a major artistic center.  After leaving this Earth, Oduduwa was admitted to the Yoruba pantheon of Gods in Ile-Ife. 
 
By adorning Oduduwa with his art, Laolu claims himself as the primordial custodian of the 
Yoruba art and culture, therefore keeping the spirit alive. Also, the meaning of Laolu’s name itself, Olaoluwapo, means the wealth, gifts and blessings in abundance of Oludumare.