8 research outputs found
Art as Symbol of Power and Control among the Yorùbá
No full textThe Yorùbá are popular for the peculiar art forms, which include woodcarving, textile design, metalwork, cloth weaving and embroidery, beadwork, costuming, pottery, architectural ornamentation, mural paintings, body beautification among others. The Yorùbá artists produce unique forms in these diverse areas of art. These forms often bear visual renditions of symbolism that are pregnant with socio-political meanings. This paper is, therefore, aimed at examining the symbolism of power and control among the Yorùbá found on some of the art forms. This is with the view of understanding the belief of the people about power and its control in the development of the Yorùbá nation. Photographic data for the paper were gathered from written literature and fieldwork. Formal and contextual methods were employed in the analysis of the data. In the course of analysis, oral traditions such as songs, proverbs, etc. were used. It was found out that the exercise of socio-political power in the Yorùbá society is a product of their belief system and philosophy as expressed in their art forms
Art as Symbol of Power and Control among the Yorùbá
No full textThe Yorùbá are popular for the peculiar art forms, which include woodcarving, textile design, metalwork, cloth weaving and embroidery, beadwork, costuming, pottery, architectural ornamentation, mural paintings, body beautification among others. The Yorùbá artists produce unique forms in these diverse areas of art. These forms often bear visual renditions of symbolism that are pregnant with socio-political meanings. This paper is, therefore, aimed at examining the symbolism of power and control among the Yorùbá found on some of the art forms. This is with the view of understanding the belief of the people about power and its control in the development of the Yorùbá nation. Photographic data for the paper were gathered from written literature and fieldwork. Formal and contextual methods were employed in the analysis of the data. In the course of analysis, oral traditions such as songs, proverbs, etc. were used. It was found out that the exercise of socio-political power in the Yorùbá society is a product of their belief system and philosophy as expressed in their art forms
Yoruba Woodcarving: New Characteristics, New Uses
No full textYoruba traditional woodcarving has existed for immemorial generations, though the perishable nature of woodcarving makes it impossible to ascertain when it actually started. It is one of the most prominent and profuse art practices of the Yoruba. It is used majorly to service the pantheon of Yoruba gods like Sango, Ogun, Ifa, et cetera, cults like Oro and Ogboni including other religioninclined worships and acts of veneration. It is also used as anarchitectural support in the palace and in the houses of Yoruba title holders. Since the contacts of the Yoruba with the agents of westernization such as colonialism, urbanization, education, new technology, Christian religion etc., the traditional Yoruba woodcarving has changed to contemporary whereby it possesses new characteristics and new uses. This paper, therefore, aims at focusing on the transition of Yoruba woodcarving from traditionalto contemporary. It takes a cursory look at the contemporary characteristics and uses of the Yoruba woodcarving that make it different from its traditional forms. Data for the study were sourced from secondary literature and oral interviews The works of a two Yoruba woodcarvers were examined and analyzed using formal and contextual methods, the result of the study found that, the contemporary woodcarving now have dimensions of elongation, abstraction and texturisation and they are now mainly used for adornment of homes, decorative pieces and as a souvenirs. The conclusions were drawn based on the outcome of the analysis
Cultural symbols in textile production and nation building in Nigeria
No full textThe study examined cultural symbols in textile production and nation building in Nigeria with the thesis that the preservation of a nation’s culture is synonymous with nation building. People\u27s culture is a function of the environment in which they are situated physically and naturally. Nigeria is yet to annex her cultural imperatives for nation building, especially through the vehicle of textile production and the associated designs which are the objective and fulcrum around which this study revolves. Practice led studio approach was used in the production of both the mpi-enyi and mbor batiks. In the findings, the significance of mpi-enyi and mbor cultural symbols in the exploration of batik textile design was highlighted and their usage explained. Also, the role of cultural symbols in textile production and nation building through cultural preservation, annexation of development, moral education, preservation of instruments for orderly social mobility, and economic development was explained. The study, therefore, concluded that the preservation of a nation\u27s culture is a sine qua non for nation building. It was therefore recommended that Nigeria should place much premium on her cultural imperatives through the cultural preservation of her artefacts for the requisite nation building
Contemporary Yoruba Heroes in Public Sculpture
No full textFrom ancient times, the Yorùbá people held in high esteem people who occupied reputable positions in their society. As such, at the departure of such people, they are immortalized in sculptural forms by the living. Examples of this is Ako figures among the Ọ̀wọ̀ people, bronze figures representing past Ooni and Sango symbol which is represented in a carved double axe wand. This tradition continues in the contemporary time whereby some Yorùbá heroes are also rendered in sculptural images adorning selected open spaces. The paper thus, aims at examining some selected Yorùbá figures in public sculpture with a view to classifying and providing information about their life, contributions and philosophy that serve as good examples to the public. In achieving this, formal and contextual analytical methods are used
Contemporary Yoruba Heroes in Public Sculpture
No full textFrom ancient times, the Yorùbá people held in high esteem people who occupied reputable positions in their society. As such, at the departure of such people, they are immortalized in sculptural forms by the living. Examples of this is Ako figures among the Ọ̀wọ̀ people, bronze figures representing past Ooni and Sango symbol which is represented in a carved double axe wand. This tradition continues in the contemporary time whereby some Yorùbá heroes are also rendered in sculptural images adorning selected open spaces. The paper thus, aims at examining some selected Yorùbá figures in public sculpture with a view to classifying and providing information about their life, contributions and philosophy that serve as good examples to the public. In achieving this, formal and contextual analytical methods are used
Traditional Symbols of Yoruba Pattern Designs As Insignia of Cultural Identity On Indigenous Clothing
No full textThis article looks into the tradition symbols of Yoruba designs and the suggested intent of anonymous indigenous draught man, whose crafts works are represented on the surface design such as textile products with the aim to the promote the Yoruba identity. Apart from textile surface, there are also other objects from the cultural angle are referred symbolic objects such as woods, metals that keep memoire of signs, symbols and sketches functional. These perhaps reflect in the contemporary designs’ crafts present on the surface textile design, which makes a synergy between Yoruba art and culture possible. The study was conducted to determine the traditional symbols on textile (batik) as insignia of cultural identity among the Yoruba people
A New Form of Authoritarianism? Rethinking Military Politics in Post-1999 Nigeria
No full textDespite the vast research that has been done on the Nigerian military, virtually all of these studies have failed to critically examine the accepted role of the military in the democratising phase. This is important because the relationship between the political elite and the military in post-military authoritarian states guarantees either democratic consolidation, or its reversal. In Nigeria, despite an appearance of significant progress in subordinating the military institution to democratic civilian authority, the military remains a crucial political actor in the polity. It appears that the military has yet to accept the core democratic principles of civilian oversight of the institution. This thesis, therefore, explores whether a new form of military authoritarianism is emerging in Nigeria, with the aim of understanding Nigeria’s military behaviour in a transitional phase, from prolonged military authoritarianism to democratisation. To examine this military behaviour, Alfred Stepan’s concept of military prerogatives that was used to understand the military’s behaviour in a transitional phase in Latin America is applied to Nigeria.
A crucial understanding of authoritarianism in Nigeria is initially discussed in this study using mainly document analysis strategy to examine whether multi-ethnic states, such as Nigeria, tend to have authoritarian systems. Six hypotheses form the core analysis of this thesis: first, that the military has retained significant military prerogatives; second, that retired military officers are gaining influential political and economic positions; third, autonomous military involvement in human rights abuses since 1999; and fourth, that civilian government oversight remains weak, and facilitates military authoritarianism. These hypotheses are primarily analysed using the elite interview technique. During the first half of 2011, the author conducted field research where serving and retired military officers were interviewed. The fifth hypothesis is that the military has intervened in politics post-1999. The examination of this hypothesis relies primarily on key security-related media reports (mostly newspaper editorials) on the military after 1999. The examination of the final hypothesis, that increases in military expenditures might facilitate a new form of military authoritarianism, relies primarily on descriptive statistical analysis. In addition, this study collated relevant historical materials that relate to the military, utilising national archival collections.
The empirical findings of this research did not identify a new form of military authoritarianism in Nigeria. The study, however, argues that the unrestricted institutional framework accorded the military has contributed significantly to authoritarian practices in the post-military era in Nigeria. This study discovered that there were similarities between the Brazilian and Nigerian militaries in regard to their military spending during their period in power. Both countries had lower defence budgets. Just as in Brazil, it appears that part of the reason the Nigerian military decided to relinquish power in 1999 had to do with its desire to gain a higher budget, something that was precluded in a military government struggling to retain a sense of legitimacy. The military needed a higher budget to modernise and re-professionalise its institution after more than a decade in power. This feature, which the Nigerian military shares with the Brazilian military, appears to justify the application to Nigeria of Alfred Stepan’s concept of military prerogatives.
