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Animal Representations in Nigerian Art: A Review of Roles, Significance and Aesthetics

Year 2023, Issue: 30, 33 - 42, 31.07.2023
https://doi.org/10.17484/yedi.1117278

Abstract

The paper explores literature, as well as Nigeria’s national museum’s content on the use of animal forms as elements and subjects in traditional Nigerian art from prehistoric to the contemporary time. It identifies the roles, and significance of animals to mankind, as well as appraises their aesthetic value in Visual Art. The paper dwells on Nigerian Indigenous tales associated with animals associated with certain Nigerian cultures such as snakes, lizards and crocodiles among others. Other data was sourced from books, journal articles, pictorial images online, as well as museum’s documentations online. Data was qualitatively analysed using art historian methods to descriptively present the data. The study identifies animals as important companions of man; most animals serve as food sources, while some typifies human characters. The study concluded that, animal representations in art were born out of love and regard for them. Nevertheless, they have significantly contributed to the visual aesthetics of the past and present cultures, and therefore need to be preserved for future generations to learn from and also to adopt them for art pieces.

References

  • Adepegba, C. O. (1995). Nigerian art: Its traditions and modern tendencies. IJODAD Publishers.
  • Beidelman, T. O. (1963). Witchcraft in Ukaguru. Routledge & Kegan Publishers.
  • Chaudhuri, U. (2012, April). What is the role of animals in art? http://journal.juilliard.edu/journal/what-role-animals-art
  • Eyo, E. and Willett, F. (1980). Treasures of ancient Nigeria. Alfred A. Knopf Publishers.
  • Fagg, B (Ed.). (1957). The cave painting and rock gongs of Birnin Kudu. Cambridge University Press.
  • Filani, K. (1990) Onaism: contemporary recreation of the forms and philosophies of traditional Yoruba art and design. Oritamefa Proceedings.
  • Gillon, W. (1984). A short history of African art. Viking Publishers.
  • Hall, H. U. (1922). Great benin royal alter. The Museum Journal, 8(2), 55-60.
  • Ki-Zebro, J. (Ed.). (1981). African prehistoric art. Paris and Heinemann Publishers.
  • Loftus, E. (1979). Visual history of Africa. Evans Brothers Publishers.
  • Mannel, T. M. & Breuing P. (2016). The nok terractta sculptures of pangwari. Journal of African Archaeology, 14(3), 313-329.
  • Mbahi, A. A. (2019). Art education in Nigeria. Artistic Development in Nigerian Society.
  • Pogoson, O. I. (2015). Interrogating anthropomorphism in benin and northern edo art: Some tentative notes for historical clarifications. Journal of West African Archaeology, 45(2).
  • Rhotert, H. (1970). The rock pictures of the saharain. George G. Harrap Publishers.
  • Sussan, H. (1960). Cave paintings recently discovered near Bauchi, Northern Nigeria. MAN.
  • Sydow, E. V. (1938). Ancient and modern art in Benin city. Africa, 11(1), 55-62.
  • Tambiah, S. (1969). Animals are good to think and good to prohibit. Ethnology, 8(4); 423 – 459.
  • Vanghan, J.H. (1962). Rock paintings and rock gongs among the Marghi of Nigeria. MAN.

Nijerya Sanatında Hayvan Temsilleri: Roller, Önem ve Estetik Üzerine Bir İnceleme

Year 2023, Issue: 30, 33 - 42, 31.07.2023
https://doi.org/10.17484/yedi.1117278

Abstract

Makale, Nijerya ulusal müzesi'nin, tarih öncesinden çağdaş zamana kadar geleneksel Nijerya sanatında hayvan formlarının unsur ve konu olarak kullanımına ilişkin içeriğinin yanı sıra edebiyatı da araştırdı. Hayvanların insanlık için rollerini ve önemini belirledi ve Görsel Sanattaki estetik değerlerini değerlendirdi. Makale, toplumdaki diğerlerinin yanı sıra yılanlar, kertenkeleler ve timsahlar gibi belirli Nijerya kültürleriyle ilişkili çoğu hayvanla ilişkili Nijeryalı Yerli masallara odaklandı. Diğer veri bilgileri çevrimiçi kitaplardan, dergi makalelerinden, resimsel görüntülerden ve müzenin belgelerinin çevrimiçi olarak yeniden kullanılmasından elde edildi. Veriler, verileri tanımlayıcı bir şekilde sunmak için sanat tarihçisi yöntemi kullanılarak niteliksel olarak analiz edildi. Çalışma, hayvanları insanın önemli arkadaşı olarak tanımladı; Çoğu hayvan besin kaynağı olarak hizmet ederken, bazıları insan karakterlerini simgeliyor. Çalışma, sanattaki hayvan temsillerinin onlara olan sevgi ve saygıdan doğduğu sonucuna varmıştır. Bununla birlikte, geçmiş ve şimdiki kültürlerin görsel estetiğine olumlu bir şekilde önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunmuşlardır ve bu nedenle gelecek neslin onlardan öğrenmesi ve bunları sanat eserleri için benimsemesi için korunması gerekmektedir.

References

  • Adepegba, C. O. (1995). Nigerian art: Its traditions and modern tendencies. IJODAD Publishers.
  • Beidelman, T. O. (1963). Witchcraft in Ukaguru. Routledge & Kegan Publishers.
  • Chaudhuri, U. (2012, April). What is the role of animals in art? http://journal.juilliard.edu/journal/what-role-animals-art
  • Eyo, E. and Willett, F. (1980). Treasures of ancient Nigeria. Alfred A. Knopf Publishers.
  • Fagg, B (Ed.). (1957). The cave painting and rock gongs of Birnin Kudu. Cambridge University Press.
  • Filani, K. (1990) Onaism: contemporary recreation of the forms and philosophies of traditional Yoruba art and design. Oritamefa Proceedings.
  • Gillon, W. (1984). A short history of African art. Viking Publishers.
  • Hall, H. U. (1922). Great benin royal alter. The Museum Journal, 8(2), 55-60.
  • Ki-Zebro, J. (Ed.). (1981). African prehistoric art. Paris and Heinemann Publishers.
  • Loftus, E. (1979). Visual history of Africa. Evans Brothers Publishers.
  • Mannel, T. M. & Breuing P. (2016). The nok terractta sculptures of pangwari. Journal of African Archaeology, 14(3), 313-329.
  • Mbahi, A. A. (2019). Art education in Nigeria. Artistic Development in Nigerian Society.
  • Pogoson, O. I. (2015). Interrogating anthropomorphism in benin and northern edo art: Some tentative notes for historical clarifications. Journal of West African Archaeology, 45(2).
  • Rhotert, H. (1970). The rock pictures of the saharain. George G. Harrap Publishers.
  • Sussan, H. (1960). Cave paintings recently discovered near Bauchi, Northern Nigeria. MAN.
  • Sydow, E. V. (1938). Ancient and modern art in Benin city. Africa, 11(1), 55-62.
  • Tambiah, S. (1969). Animals are good to think and good to prohibit. Ethnology, 8(4); 423 – 459.
  • Vanghan, J.H. (1962). Rock paintings and rock gongs among the Marghi of Nigeria. MAN.
There are 18 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Derleme Makaleler
Authors

Michael Abiodun Oyinloye 0000-0001-6353-2993

Adebayo Abiodun Adeloye 0000-0001-8705-5415

Peter Oluwagbenga Odewole 0000-0002-0977-2993

Benjamin Eni-itan F Afolabi 0000-0003-3712-830X

Publication Date July 31, 2023
Submission Date May 16, 2022
Acceptance Date February 24, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Issue: 30

Cite

APA Oyinloye, M. A., Adeloye, A. A., Odewole, P. O., Afolabi, B. E.-i. F. (2023). Animal Representations in Nigerian Art: A Review of Roles, Significance and Aesthetics. Yedi(30), 33-42. https://doi.org/10.17484/yedi.1117278

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