Impact of African Traditional Art Practice in the Development of Artistic Impulses among Children of School Age in Afikpo L.G.A. of Ebonyi State.

Abstract

Art as an instrument of development forms a framework in the traditional Afikpo art practices where its inhabitants acquires creative skills for human development. This study yearns at encouraging the young youths who passed through the traditional process of art training to continue with art through formal training to improve on their creative expressions. The study adopted a historical survey design where a population of those who passed through the traditional tutelage of Afikpo was sampled randomly to ascertain the viability of Afikpo traditional art practices and its encouragement to advance in art study. One hundred Afikpo Indigenes took the sample size. Seventy-seven initiates and nine teachers from Afikpo made up the sample size, covering the Afikpo communities. Questionnaires, observation and oral interviews were used to obtain data. Out of 100 questionnaires sent out, only 86 returned. Data obtained were analysed with simple percentages. The study recommended afterwards based on the findings of the research that artistic skills be vigorously encouraged among the youths in Afikpo, that cultural centres be revived, mueums and local resource centres be built, cultural seminars be held locally within the communities in Afikpo among others.