Rugby star Maro Itoje on venturing into the art world

His teammates call him ‘The Pearl’ – a rugby player who adds enormous value to any side he plays for. Explore the glistening career of England and Saracens second row Maro Itoje – five Premiership titles, three European Champions Cups, three Six Nations Championships and two British & Irish Lions tours – and you soon realise how well-earned that moniker is.

A poster child for the well-rounded modern rugby player, Itoje’s impact goes much further than the big hits he delivers on the field. In July 2023, he launched The Pearl Fund, which aims to transform the lives of children in Nigeria and other African countries through education.

And late last year he joined forces with art director Khalil Akar to launch Akoje Gallery, which showcases African and Caribbean artworks at venues around the world. One such space is British Airways’ recently renovated lounge in Lagos, which is displaying works by local artists.

Itoje sits down with High Life to talk about the thrill of Nigerian art markets, his toughest opponent and the future of England Rugby.

Where does your love for art come from and why is it so important to promote artists from Africa and the Caribbean in particular?
I didn’t grow up in the art world per se – and, of course, being a rugby player is a different world entirely. But my family home was decorated with beautiful African art pieces and that was the first exposure to art I had. I realised growing up in the UK that I didn’t really see pieces like we had at home elsewhere – not in my friends’ houses, in visual media, TV, newspapers or magazines. It felt as if there was a beautiful and extensive landscape of art from Africa and the Caribbean that was being denied a platform over here. My love for art comes from the way it acts as an outward expression of yourself. The way I’ve designed my own home, the interiors and the art – they are an expression of my personality. But art also provides joy and connection. It makes you feel something. The art I’m drawn to – African and West African art – connects me back to Nigeria, where I’m from. That is very powerful.

How does Akoje Gallery’s collaboration with British Airways in Lagos add to your mission to showcase artists?
The initiative is a manifestation of the core ethos of Akoje Gallery – to encourage cross-cultural exchange and provide a platform for local artists, who might otherwise not have the representation they deserve. Akoje Gallery is a touring gallery. We plan for it to roam in different locations throughout the world. So, it makes total sense for us to partner with British Airways, which brings people, communities and places closer together. It is very special to have a presence in the Lagos lounge and to be a contributor to this special place as the gateway to Nigeria.

Do you have a favourite artwork, something that has really moved you?
I don’t have a favourite piece of art – I feel a connection to all of my collection. But I do remember the feeling when I went to the art market in Lagos for the first time, when I was around 21 years old. I was moving into my first apartment, and I was looking for African art in London. I could barely find anything, and the few pieces I did find were far beyond my price range. So, my mum promised to take me to the art market in Nigeria and nine months later we went. I was completely taken aback by the colour, the dynamism, the richness of texture. That was a moment that really moved me.

You have consistently been among the best locks in rugby since making your international debut. What is the key to being so consistent?
I believe human beings are multi-faceted and capable of having different interests that co-exist. I think some facets of my life help the other facets of my life. So, my passion and love of African art – that’s an outlet for me and a refreshment I need so that I can fully focus on rugby. These things are all interconnected and feed into each other. I think if I was just to play rugby, for me that wouldn’t be healthy for my rugby career.

Who has been your toughest international opponent?
Kieran Read, former All Blacks captain. He had a lethal combination of power and versatility. He was commanding yet skilful. It was a hard-fought battle at every encounter!

The England team defied expectations at the last World Cup and seems to be building towards something special. What are your hopes for the national side?
I have always believed we are a team who can win. We went through a difficult period, we took our medicine and worked through it, but we never doubted our potential. We have a fantastic new coach. It goes without saying that it would be a dream of mine to win a world title with England. To be part of the team that achieves that would be very special to me.

You are also doing a lot to improve education in Nigeria. Tell us a bit more about your Pearl Fund.
The Pearl Fund aims to generate a multi-million-pound investment in the education of Nigerian children and, I hope in the long term, wider African countries. Nigeria is home to some of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world. The deprivation in Nigeria hits you like a truck – one in four Nigerians lives below the poverty line, which is less than US$2.15 a day. Nigeria’s children are trapped in a cycle where family survival must take precedence over education, which hinders their potential and really maintains the status quo of an unstable wider society. So The Pearl Fund supports a cohort of 40 children – all orphaned or fatherless – from one of Lagos’ most deprived areas to attend Platform College, a private school that offers the same quality of education as the British Curriculum but retains the students’ local heritage. Their entire education is financed, with clean water, food and economic support provided for their families so they can focus on learning, not merely surviving. This is a long-term, ‘depth not breadth’ commitment to these children – and hopefully generations to come – to truly lift them out of poverty. I sincerely believe that education is the greatest equaliser.