{"id":519,"date":"2021-09-10T13:22:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T13:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eteportraits.com\/?p=519"},"modified":"2021-09-10T13:40:17","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T13:40:17","slug":"introducing-uhuru","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eteportraits.com\/introducing-uhuru\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing: Uhuru"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You might remember Christian the lion as a media sensation during his time in London. Or perhaps from his resurgence as a viral phenomenon online. This may be the first you\u2019re hearing of him. Either way, one thing is for certain \u2013 if this cheeky chap hasn\u2019t stolen your heart to date, it\u2019s only a matter of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Chance Encounter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whenever possible, I like to deliver my artwork in person. In 2020, such a trip led me to the home of Derek Cattani. If on that day you had told me where this meeting would lead, I never would have believed you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over a glass of wine, I discovered that Derek was the official photographer of Christian the lion and that he was around Christian for much of his time in London. He told me all sorts of wonderful stories of his time with Christian \u2013 about his antics and his personality. Nowadays Derek works as a trustee for LionAid \u2013 a charity working hard to save lions around the globe and to end the decline of lion populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derek proposed a collaboration \u2013 a drawing of Christian from one of his photos to help raise funds for LionAid \u2013 and with my enthusiastic acceptance, the project was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Who Was Christian?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Born in captivity in 1969, Christian and one of his sisters were acquired by Harrods department store in London and made available for sale in their Zoo department (I know!). They were quite the attraction, drawing visitors in from far and wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter John Rendall and Anthony \"Ace\" Bourke. Concerned by the condition the lions were kept in, they decided to purchase Christian with the aim of providing him a better life. A few meetings with Harrods, some logistical scrambling and one heavy investment later and they were on their way out the door with a lion cub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian spent the first year of his life living in the aptly named Sophistocat furniture shop, where he had the basement as his kingdom. He soon became quite the attraction and his playful inquisitive character made him quite a hit with both the press and a plethora of celebrities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the blessing of a local vicar, Christian was regularly exercised in the grounds of the Moravian Church. On these daily trips he could run free \u2013 exploring the gardens, chasing a football and when permitted, his human-pride members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as Christian grew larger, it was clear he was outgrowing his London lifestyle. He was visited by Virginnia McKenna and Bill Travers (stars of \u2018Born Free\u2019) who suggested he was introduced to George Adamson, the conservationist. Adamson agreed to reintegrate Christian into the wild in the Kora National Reserve in Kenya, sending Christian on the second stage of his amazing journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of a year, Adamson worked tirelessly to integrate Christian, introducing him to other lions to establish a pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n