The Post-Colonial Dilemma, Impact and Implications on African Art Culture: Functional Shift in Lineage Woodcarving Art in Iseyin, Nigeria

Abstract

A critical observation of post-colonial societies in Africa shows significant changes that have taken place in traditional  communities, which have greatly affected, modified and re-invented the artistic and socio-cultural practices. The Yoruba  traditional societies in Nigeria have also experienced this paradigm shifts. Iseyin, the case study of this article, is an  important Yoruba town in the upper Ogun River, in Oyo State of southwestern Nigeria. Among the Yoruba, like most  other African ethnic groups, artistic practices are lineage based and pass from generation to generation. In Iseyin, there  is a lineage wood carving tradition which had thrived well in the town for centuries. The objects that were carved  functioned for purposes that were spiritual, religious, decorative, architectural and utilitarian and also provided socio- economic sustenance for the town. In contemporary times, there is a functional shift resulting from postcolonialism,  which has impacted the lineage woodcarving art in the town and by extension its artistic culture. There is a dilemma in  heredity, stylistic direction and patronage. The art practice is threatened by extinction. This paper, through qualitative  field investigation examines the lineage woodcarving in Iseyin and the shift in practice and patronage against the  backdrop of shifts in the traditional art culture of post-colonial African societies. Internal and external factors such as  western education, religion and technology are found to be responsible for the shifts. The effects are analyzed. The  paper concludes by recommending several approaches for the revitalization of traditional art practices in contemporary  times for sustainable artistic heritage and development in Africa.