A Christian Perspective on Traditional Art and Art Education in Nigeria

Art – particularly traditional Nigerian art – has been subject to profound controversy in contemporary, Nigeria. The subject presently divides the culturalist/traditionalist schools of thought and modernist, westernised or Christianised ones. The first strongly advocate the promotion of this industry and brandish it, as a vector of cultural conservatism while the second, the modernist, westernized or Christianized, Nigerians, view traditional art as a site of paganism, barbarism and spiritual impurity. In tandem with this, the different Christian vitalities have dogmatically held divergent views on, traditional, art. Using literary, sources and a focus group discussion involving members of different Christian denominations, this paper, attempts to demonstrate that Christian positions on the issue of traditional Nigerian art and art education, are complex, personalised and very much conditioned by their respective or specific doctrinal orientations., Some Christians totally demonise traditional art while others advocate an intelligent return to sources in, which relevant aspects of folk art are given a chance to express the Christian faith. This means that, to most, pro-folk art Christians, ingredients such as traditional African music could be used to praise God and, evangelize, the same as some sculpted forms could be used, like in some Catholic traditions, to express, faith. The findings of this paper equally reveal that whatsoever the doctrinal orientation of Christians, art, education is deemed important.,

Keywords: African Traditional Art, Fundamental Christianity, Art Education, Conservatism