Understanding Culture and Pre-Colonial Nigeria

Study Notes

Culture is defined as the complex whole encompassing knowledge, beliefs, law, art, custom, moral, and any other capabilities and habit acquired by man as a member of a society (Edward B. Tylor).
Art is the physical representation of a culture's views, beliefs, and practices, reflecting the essence of the people through various forms like drawing, paintings, carvings, body adornment, and folklore (Ember and Ember 2011).

Pre-colonial Nigeria refers to the period before English colonialism, between the 16th to 18th centuries.
The story of art is closely tied to the story of civilization and the evolution of man, with art being used to express belief and represent cultures throughout human history (Solso 2003).

Art was largely inseparable from religion in traditional African societies, serving as a medium for expressing religious beliefs.
Nigerian people utilized art to interpret their world, employing it in various cultural celebrations, ceremonies, and special festivals (Okoye, 2014).
Artistic objects were created to represent the essence and attributes of natural forces and elements, as well as ancestral images, gods, and spirit entities (Aniakor, 1984; Akpomuvie, 2013).

Nigeria's cultural landscape features a diverse range of art forms and mediums, including:
- Rock and body art
- Textile and Non-woven textile forms
- Pottery
- Wood work
- Metal work
- Leather works
- Bead work
Body art is the oldest and earliest form of art in Africa and pre-colonial Nigeria, featuring paintings and engravings on rock surfaces.

Early Western scholars classified African art into two major categories:
1. Art
2. Craft
Sculptural art forms served mostly religious and political functions, dominated by males in production and performance.
Domestic craft served household functions, dominated by females in production and use, featuring various materials like clay, metal, wood, and plant materials.