Art is Everything and Nothing, in an Artistically Uninformed Nigerian Society.

Abstract

Art is everything and therefore life, because life imitates art and art, life. Art fastens itself inseparably to every aspect of human project and lifestyle. But, it is highly unfortunate that in Nigerian society, the 95% of Nigerians are still very much ignorant of the roles, functions and contributions of art in their everyday lives and nation building, when it is still the same art that forms the integral parts of life, both in traditional and modern settings. This paper, therefore, sets to buttress more and make it very clear that art is everything and has been regarded as nothing and worthless in an artistically uninformed Nigerian society. It simply exposed the captivity held on to and the highly insipid and insinuative opinions on art by this 95% artistically uninformed Nigerian society. Also, in this paper, efforts were made to highlight how art permeates the entire Nigerian society. But, whether regarded or not, it is still art that shapes the Nigerian society in its entirety

because of the very vital roles it plays in religion, politics, education, print media, tourism, advertising, social arena, therapy, carnivals, culture, architecture, commerce, textiles to mention a few. Art is everywhere and is long and it is through the longevity of art that the shortness of life is extended.

Keyword: Art, Everything, Nothing and Uninformed Nigerian Society.