The Arts of the Niger Delta
The arts of the Niger Delta people have a unique cultural reflection of beauty and wealth. These art styles were inherited from their ancient fathers which is purely an expression of self and creativity.
The arts of the Niger Delta have been in practice long before the era of the colonial masters and have continued to strive to date.
However, there have been Western influences of modern technology and industrialization which partially have affected the arts of these people, but even in the face of modernism – the introduction of new media and materials – it still maintains its unique styles.
History has it that the Niger Delta culture and technological inventions reached their climax in the 16th century A.D. Although, as a result of cultural influence by the Europeans. It was thought that the people’s cultural heritage was greatly impacted by many civilizations, but this claim has been disputed.
Forms and Arts of the Niger Delta
The arts consist of both visual and performance arts, some of the visual art materials used in the production of the Niger Delta arts incorporate wood, clay, metal, fiber, leather, and so on. The art forms include body paintings, mural paintings, calabash decorations, sculptures, and herbalism.
The performance art includes dance, music, drama, folk songs, and storytelling. There are agricultural, fishing, technological tools and equipment, as well as traditional medicines which the Niger Delta people developed.
Geographical Area
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is an oil-rich community, with diver unique cultures, traditions, and natural aesthetic views. This area has attracted lots of concerns from both within and outside Nigeria, because of its enormous natural resources and conflicts in the area.
The Niger Delta region is made up of nine states in Nigeria, which are Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo State. They are situated within the south-south, southwest, and southeast region of Nigeria.
They are surrounded by Anambra, Enugu, Kogi, and Ekiti state, they share similar culture and speaks over 250 dialects in this area. The region consists of about 1600 communities, with 40 ethnic groups. It has a land mass of 70,000-kilometer square and about 31,224,587 people (according to the 2006 population census)
The Arts of the Niger Delta Includes the following:
- Pottery
- Raffia Weaving
- Leather Work
- Wood carving: Mask and its related figures
- Canoe carving
- Textiles weaving
- Calabash Decoration
- Appliqué and embroidering
- Basketry
- Mat-making.
- Bead Work
- Metal Work
- Hairdressing
- Carpentry
Festivals in the Niger Delta
Festival definition: A feast, a festival, or a general good time held to honor noteworthy occurrences in society. It is a group activity that engages everyone in a town. Festivals are held for a variety of reasons, including economic, religious, and social ones.
Economic Festival: These are holidays held every year to honor successful harvests of food crops, as well as fishing and hunting expeditions, such as the New Yam Festival.
Religious Festivals: Festivals held yearly in remembrance of gods or ancestors are considered religious and ritual celebrations. These celebrations are done either to express gratitude to the gods or ancestors for sparing them from tragedy or defeat in combat or simply to ask for the community’s protection through prayer. Using an Igbo example, Omaba or Ime Alusi
Socio-Political Festival: Annual celebrations honoring traditional procedures such as assuming a position of community political leadership (Chieftaincy Coronations), the rite of circumcision, initiation celebrations, wrestling celebrations, etc.
Social Values of Niger Delta’s Cultural Festivals
1. Cultural celebrations encourage improved social ties among Niger Delta residents.
2. They make space for an all-community gathering in the Niger Delta where people can organize and decide on their particular initiatives and development.
3. They provide opportunities for amusement and social leisure.
4. They create a time for honoring influential members of the community, such as the monarch or traditional rulers, as well as sometimes the weaker and older members of the community.
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Foreign Influence on the Arts of the Niger Delta
Here are two major topics related to the foreign impact on the arts of the Niger Delta: both favorable and unfavorable influences.
Favorable Influence on the Arts of the Niger Delta
Government Recognition: Due to the focus on Western education, the Nigerian government has acknowledged traditional art forms and practices as elements of modern art. As an illustration, the government of Rivers State recently unveiled a skill acquisition program for the training of persons in the state with specialized skills.
The program provides a strong framework for understanding the necessity to develop talent and serve both the government and oneself. Modern Nigerian universities provide courses in pottery making, cane weaving, blacksmithing, and other Niger Delta arts.
The executive state justice’s wife, Mary Peter Odili, established the initiative in Rivers State. Such a program for talent development is a powerful example of how the government values traditional art.
Access to Improved Art Supplies: Nigerian artists were introduced to modern art supplies, tools, and equipment through their Western schooling. Modern Society benefits from the usage of Western-oriented art supplies for contemporary art forms and activities, including chemical dyes, paints, brushes, machinery, and fiberglass, among others. That Production generates space for mass Production.
Access to a Varied Range of Art Materials: More creative supplies are now available for usage in Nigerian indigenous culture thanks to Western culture. Artists from the Niger Delta who converted native materials into media now employ a variety of modern arts.
The majority of these supplies and equipment may be found on the market for reasonable prices. Usually, the artist is inspired by the materials’ accessibility before them. These
Improved Training Standard
The majority of native Nigerian artists, particularly those in the Niger Delta region, are now familiar with conventional concepts and techniques for resolving artistic problems thanks to the country’s Western education system. The abilities gained through such training have enhanced the artists’ personalities as well as the caliber of their work.
Improved Patronage: The supporters of traditional art (Niger Delta arts) have changed their preferences from indigenous art to modern Western cultural motifs and mediums as a result of Western culture.
Traditional Motifs’ Work: Through art exhibitions, seminars, and workshops from both private and public art collectors, Western education has made native Nigerians more visible to the world. Additionally, raising awareness of the value of traditional arts
Means of Livelihood: Nigerians who are Westernized have been exposed to the commercialization of indigenous art. Over time, the Niger Delta population has accumulated this edge. Many of them receive training in various traditional art forms and government-issued certificates of competency in their areas of specialization.
In addition to leading private and group studies, they also work as artists in respectable private and public institutions. Some of them go on to pursue careers as educators, speakers, ambassadors, politicians, and a variety of other occupations that pay their bills.
Advanced Production Methods: The employment of machinery in the art business for speedy and mass production of artworks was brought about by a Western orientation that makes place for domestic and international trade.
Unfavorable Influence on the Arts of the Niger Delta
Social, Religious, and Philosophical Changes: Western education introduced new Western cultural practices, values, and philosophy to Nigeria. The concept led to the widespread occurrence of the Christian and Islamic religions in Nigeria. The traditional arts of the Niger Delta, idols, shrines, and rituals, which were the main ideas of Niger Delta arts in Nigeria, were banned by the aforementioned religions. New ideas and artistic movements were introduced as a result of this growth, which still reflect Western society today
Decline In Niger Delta Arts Practices: The people of the Niger Delta were dissuaded from remaining dedicated to the practice of their indigenous arts by the new ideology and beliefs that Nigerians adopted in many spheres of life. As a result, the majority of artists switched to other lines of work and began to practice art part-time. As a result, there was a decrease in local indigenous art production.
Change from Indigenous Motif Theme and Style to Western Arts Style and Subject: the employment of Western themes, ideas, methods, and techniques of work modified the indigenous subject matter explored by Niger Delta artists in expressing their art. Decorative purposes are used for arts and design that were formerly used for religious and ritual purposes.
Modification of Production Processes: Some modifications in the methods used to create art were brought about by Nigerian artists’ exposure to Western art supplies. The development and usage of machinery for the mass production of indigenous arts in Nigeria have weakened the motivation of Niger Delta artists to practice their art in a unique, original, and dynamic manner.
Value of Niger Delta Indigenous Arts and Artists Reduced: Indigenous Nigerian artists adapted Western culture to their indigenous art conceptions and production methods. Not only has this transformation decreased the number of indigenous artworks, but also their quality and the artists who created them.
Decreased Patronage of The Indigenous Arts of The Niger Delta:
The majority of Nigerian art and craft buyers are exposed to Western art products, which they view as being superior to Nigerian goods. Many of them changed their preferences for works of art that were exclusively expressed in Western cultural motifs and mediums. Due to this factor, Nigerian consumers are no longer interested in locally produced Niger Delta arts.
Summary
The arts of the Niger Delta people of Nigeria are valued among the archives of the African arts. It has become an area of study for young artist, who wants to incorporate the styles and techniques of these arts.
It also serves as a lucrative source of income for artists and craft men as the patronizers of the arts of the Niger Delta are not only local but international.
