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20 - Creativity and Aesthetics

from Part III - Colonial Societies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2024

Toyin Falola
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Austin
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Summary

This chapter analyses the historical evolution of the creation and aesthetics of Nigerian artists during the colonial period through local musicians and actors. Moreover, the importance of oral traditions before the interaction with Europeans – such as proverbs, panegyrics, and rituals – incorporated Christianity through schools by the Nigerian elite and Western music and instruments. In the case of music, the chapter mentions how precolonial cultural traditions shaped it, the influence of ex-enslaved people from the Caribbean (such as Brazilians) who returned to the city of Lagos, and European contributions. Methodologically, the chapter follows musicians such as Fela Sowande, Victor Olaiya, and Bobby Benson. They, in different ways, integrated precolonial elements to create a national tradition that would create unity in the colonial period. In the case of theater, the chapter also mentions its historical evolution: from traveling theater to the work of Hubert Ogunde, Kola Ogunmola, and Duro Ladipo, as icons representing creativity and aesthetics, introducing Nigerian cultural elements to theater, such as Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo language, myths, and stories, linking with Western traditions such as Christianity. The chapter concludes that the artists of the colonial period sought, through their musical and theatrical works, to preserve precolonial traditions.

Type
Chapter
Information
Understanding Colonial Nigeria
British Rule and Its Impact
, pp. 423 - 452
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Creativity and Aesthetics
  • Toyin Falola, University of Texas, Austin
  • Book: Understanding Colonial Nigeria
  • Online publication: 21 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009337205.022
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  • Creativity and Aesthetics
  • Toyin Falola, University of Texas, Austin
  • Book: Understanding Colonial Nigeria
  • Online publication: 21 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009337205.022
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Creativity and Aesthetics
  • Toyin Falola, University of Texas, Austin
  • Book: Understanding Colonial Nigeria
  • Online publication: 21 November 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009337205.022
Available formats
×