Page 1 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Is s ue 10
September 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 26
“A Discourse on the Art and Tourism Industry in Nigeria as a
Veritable Tool Economic Resources”
Etim Ekpenyong Mfon
Studio Artist Department of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos
etimopaint@gmail.com
Abstract
Nigeria stands a great chance of surviving
the current economic meltdown facing the
entire globe if it could focus more on art and
tourism. It is appalling and disheartening to
observe that Nigeria is depleted of parts of
its cultural treasury to looters. It is delighted
to deduce that these assets- art, traditional
and modern and other tourism sites are
indispensable to our cultural pride and is
potential assets to the nation economy.
Sadly, Nigeria depends solely on crude oil
for sustenance: this is part of the reasons
why her economy is nose diving—resources
like Art and Tourism have been neglected
by the different governments of Nigeria
since the oil boom; forgetting that no
economy can thrive if not pluralized and
funds judiciously invested. The main crux
of this paper is to proffer solutions on how
to effectively harness the Art and Tourism
Industries in other to revamp the depressing
Nigerian economy. Art and the art of travels
have been an integral part of man's culture
for many centuries. It has persisted as a
continual universal activity from the time of
the early man who made cave paintings and
drawings, hence, their potentials cannot be
overemphasized.
Key Words: Art, Economy, Recession and
Tourism
Introduction
According to Stock (2008),
Nigeria covers an area of 923,768 sq km
(356,669 sq mi). At its greatest expanse, it
measures about 1,200 km (about 750 mi)
from east to west and about 1,050 km (about
650 mi) from north to south. Stock (2008)
writes that Nigeria is by far the most
populated of Africa’s countries, with more
than one-seventh of the continent’s people.
The people belong to many different ethnic
groups. These groups give the country a rich
culture.
Nigeria is a nation immensely
blessed with divers cultures and great artists
who are faithful custodians of her rich
cultural heritage. Stock (2008), further
stated that Nigeria’s wealth in diverse
artistic heritage goes back more than 2,000
years. The earliest noteworthy pieces are
finely produced terra-cotta sculptures
produced by the Nok culture in the vicinity
of the Jos Plateau between 500 BC and AD
200. Chanda (2009) corroborates that
among the oldest surviving art objects of
western Africa are fragments of Nok
terracotta (baked clay) sculptures found in
central Nigeria; these works date from 500
BC to AD 200.
Page 2 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Is s ue 10
September 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 27
The next known phase of Nigerian
cultural evolution was Igbo-ukwu bronze
casting. According to Gillian (1984) (p.164),
in the lower region of Nigeria, another
fortuitous find led to the discovery of an
African civilization almost as enigmatic as
Nok, and to the unearthed of the oldest
copper alloy artifacts known so far in West
Africa. Furthermore, the Ife bronze is yet
another phase of the Nigerian cultural
evolution. Yoruba artisans are prolific in the
art of terracotta, wood carving and bronze
casting. Gillian (1984) (p.184) summits that
the greatest artistic manifestation of Yoruba- and, in fact, of the black sub-Saharan west
Africa- are the bronzes and terracotta of Ife.
More so, when we talk about great works of
art from Nigeria, one cannot help but
mention Benin City. Bronze sculptures of
Benin marks another phase of Nigerian
cultural evolution. The best known Nigerian
artworks are the Benin Antiquities. Legend
recounts how the Benin people learned the
art of bronze casting from Ile-Ife around
1400 A.D. Oba Ogunta, the sixth King of
Benin, is credited with having encouraged
this art in Benin. Gillian (1984) (p.248)
stated that the jigsaw puzzle of African art
history, more is known about the art of the
city of Benin than about any other aspect of
West African plastic art. Stock (2008),
writes that also important to Nigeria’s
artistic heritage are wooden masks and
fetishes (objects of worship or ceremony).
And that some of the finest examples are
from cultures such as the Ijo, Ibibio, and
Igala from southeastern Nigeria.
Authentic examples of this art command
high prices from collectors in the West,
accounting for the frequent theft of
ceremonial objects from shrines and
museums in Nigeria. (Stock. B, 2008)
Nigerian artists are fluent in the
production of masterpieces in two and
three dimensional art forms. Great artists
like Ben Enwonwun , Yusuf Grillo, Uche
Okeke, Ben Osaghe, Lamidi Fakeye, Tola
Wewe, Bruce Onabrapkeya, Kolade
Oshinowo, and many others have
marveled art lovers the world over with
their muse expressed either through
paintings, drawings or sculpture. Each
generation of Nigerian Artists sought
perfection and excellence in the
production of their works; bearing in
mind that they are custodians of a rich
cultural heritage- they market her diverse
culture to the rest of the world.
Tourism, a boding sector of the Nigerian
economy was prioritized in 1990 following
the launching of the National Tourism
Policy. The main crux of Government policy
was to boost foreign exchange earnings,
create jobs amongst other benefits; however,
this industry is not thriving despite the many
attractive tourist destinations with which
Nigeria is blessed.
Hence, to aid a quick resuscitation of the
sagging Nigerian economy, much thought
should be given to the art and tourism
industries which are in dire need of a boost
to enable them yield maximum output. The
Page 3 of 12
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 03 Is s ue 10
September 2017
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 28
government and all stakeholders should help
create an enabling environment for this duo
to thrive like improving on the environment
and infrastructure associated with the arts
and tourism industries in Nigeria in other to
attract foreign art collectors to Nigeria and
tourists, thereby boosting her foreign
exchange earnings.
Statement of Problem
Despite Nigeria’s rich cultural
heritage, and her great wealth of art; couple
with her great oil reserve; Stock (2008)
Opined that Nigeria remains among the
world’s poorest countries in terms of per
capita income. The present state of the
Nigerian economy is capable of reducing the
life span of Nigerians; hence, urgent steps
must be taken towards boosting the
economy. The need to diversify our
economy cannot be overemphasized. Art
and Tourism are two very promising
avenues through which if properly managed
would maximize the nation’s foreign
exchange earnings thereby deliver Nigeria
from this biting economic realities.
Concept of Art and Tourism in
Nigeria
The cultural multiplicity of Nigeria has
brought about a rich array of art works with
rich cultural themes; it is also an asset for
cultural tourism. Thousands of art works- traditional and modern and myriad of
tourism sites dots the landscapes of Nigeria.
Examples of these works are: Emotan Statue
located in Benin City, Asoro Statue in Benin
City, Engr. Yemisi Shyllon”s Sculptural
Garden in Okupe estate, Maryland Lagos,
The Head of an Oni with crown and facial
satiations made from brass (24cm in height),
12th
-15th century, located at the museum of
Ife antiquities. The Head of an Oni made
from brass (29.5cm in height) between 12th
-
15th century, located at the museum of Ife
antiquities. A seated male figure in
naturalistic style made from copper.
Produced between 13th – 14th century;
located at the national museum Lagos. A
bronze skull of a leopard on a copper rod
from Igbo Richard; located at national
museum Lagos. A miniature pendant
representing a human face with striations
believed to be from Igbo Isaiah, located at
national museum Lagos. There are several
other great art pieces (paintings, ceramic,
textile and sculptural pieces) in art galleries
(both public and private) and museums in
Nigeria.
Tourist Arenas in Nigeria
Tourism is the movement of persons
from one geographical area to another in the
quest for repose, pleasure or to acquire
knowledge. This movement also affords the
persons involved the opportunity to acquire
art works, traditional costumes etc. that are
indigenous to their host country. Tourism
promotes mutual understanding between
people of different tribes, races, religious
and cultural backgrounds. Consequently, it
fosters world peace and social co-existence
amongst countries of the world. Tourism
goes a long way in bridging the gap between
