CULTURA
L AND
CREATIVE
ARTS
NOTE
[J.S.S 1]
BY
MR. AGAGWU CHISOM GIFT
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL o Art, drama, and music help people
AND CREATIVE ARTS express feelings, ideas, and messages
in unique ways.
Cultural & creative arts is literature, music, art, crafts, 7. Promotion of National Unity
dance, drama, beliefs, value, customs and traditions of o Learning about different Nigerian
people. cultures helps students appreciate
diversity and live in peace with others.
8. Talent Development
COMPONENTS OF CULTURAL AND CREATIVE o CCA helps students discover and
ARTS develop their natural talents in
singing, acting, drawing, or designing.
1. Literary Arts 9. Educational Value
2. Performance Arts o It builds confidence, observation
3. Visual Arts skills, and critical thinking, which are
4. Crafts useful in other school subjects.
5. Customs and Traditions 10. Global Relevance
o CCA connects students to
LITERARY ARTS: This includes novels, short international art, music, and cultural
stories, poems, it involves reading and hearing. practices, making them globally aware
and competitive.
PERFORMANCE ARTS: This includes music,
dance, drama, it involves seeing and hearing.
VISUAL ARTS: This involves Fine arts and Applied
arts, it involves seeing and touching. WEEK 2: INTRODUCTION TO ARTS
CRAFTS: This involves using special skills with
hands to make something. History and Origin of Arts
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS: This is the Art is as old as humanity. From the beginning, people
acceptable societal values by the people. used art as a way to express themselves, record events,
and communicate ideas. The history of art can be
traced through different stages:
Importance of Cultural and Creative Arts 1. Prehistoric Art – The earliest form of art
appeared during the Stone Age. Early humans
1. Preservation of Culture made cave paintings, carvings, and drawings
o CCA helps students understand, on rocks to represent animals, hunting scenes,
appreciate, and preserve their cultural and daily life. These were mostly found in
heritage (music, dance, drama, caves in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
festivals, arts and crafts). 2. Ancient Art – Civilizations like Egypt,
2. Creativity and Innovation Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome developed
o It encourages imagination, originality, art for religious, political, and decorative
and problem-solving through creative purposes. Egyptians built pyramids and
expression in drawing, painting, painted tombs, Greeks created statues of gods
music, and drama. and athletes, and Romans made mosaics and
3. Moral and Social Values architectural designs.
o Through drama and cultural stories, 3. Medieval Art – During this period, art was
students learn discipline, teamwork, mainly religious. Artists created stained glass
respect, and good behavior. windows, manuscripts, and church paintings to
4. Entertainment and Relaxation teach people about Christianity.
o Music, dance, and drama provide joy, 4. Renaissance Art – From the 14th to 17th
recreation, and relaxation both for century, art focused on realism, humanism,
performers and the audience. and scientific perspective. Famous artists like
5. Economic Value Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo
o Skills in arts and crafts (weaving, produced paintings and sculptures that looked
bead-making, painting, acting, music, lifelike.
etc.) can become sources of income 5. Modern Art – From the 19th century
and employment. onwards, artists began experimenting with
6. Communication and Expression new styles like impressionism, cubism,
abstract, and digital art. Art became a form of In the early 20th century, art education grew through
personal expression beyond traditional rules. the influence of missionary schools, which encouraged
drawing and craftwork as part of general learning.
In summary, the origin of art lies in man’s natural need
to communicate, beautify his environment, preserve By the 1950s and 1960s, Nigerian artists like Aina
culture, and express emotions. Onabolu and Ben Enwonwu played key roles in
promoting art in schools. Aina Onabolu, often called
Origin of Arts in the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages the father of modern Nigerian art, introduced fine art
into the school curriculum and encouraged the
1. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) teaching of painting and drawing as serious subjects.
This is the earliest period of human history, After Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the government
dating from about 2.5 million years ago to recognized the importance of cultural heritage and
around 10,000 BC. creativity. Art was included in the curriculum under
People lived in caves and depended on hunting Fine Arts, and later expanded into Cultural and
and gathering. Creative Arts (CCA) at the junior secondary level.
Art began mainly as cave paintings and
carvings on rocks and walls. These paintings Today, art is taught in schools to develop creativity,
showed animals, hunting scenes, and daily life. preserve Nigerian culture, and prepare students for
The main purpose of art at this time was for careers in design, crafts, and related professions.
communication, religious beliefs, and
record-keeping. Culture
Tools were made from stone and bones, and
early humans also made small sculptures of Culture is the way of life of a people. It includes their
animals and human figures. beliefs, customs, traditions, language, arts, music,
dance, food, and social behavior. Culture is passed
2. Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) from one generation to another and shapes how people
live and interact in society.
This period followed the Paleolithic Age,
beginning around 10,000 BC. Historical Development of Art in Nigeria
People began to settle in one place, practice
farming, and domesticate animals. 1. Pre-Colonial Period – Art in Nigeria existed
Art developed into pottery, weaving, and in communities through sculptures, carvings,
decoration of tools and houses. masks, pottery, weaving, and beadwork. It
They made ceramics and clay pots for storing was mainly used for religious, ceremonial, and
food and water. social purposes. Art reflected the beliefs,
Designs and patterns were carved or painted traditions, and daily life of the people.
on objects, showing improved creativity. 2. Colonial Period – During British
Stone tools became sharper and were colonization, Western education was
sometimes decorated. introduced, and art was taught as part of
handicrafts and drawing. Missionary schools
Summary encouraged simple crafts like knitting,
weaving, and painting. Art was not yet
In the Paleolithic Age, art was mainly for recognized as a formal subject.
survival, hunting, and rituals. 3. Early Post-Colonial Period – Nigerian artists
In the Neolithic Age, art became more like Aina Onabolu and Ben Enwonwu
decorative, practical, and connected to daily promoted art education in schools. Fine Art
life and farming. was introduced into secondary schools,
focusing on drawing, painting, and sculpture.
How Art Started in Nigerian Schools 4. Post-Independence Period – After 1960, the
Nigerian government included art in the
Art in Nigerian schools began during the colonial school curriculum as part of Cultural and
period. The British introduced formal education in Creative Arts (CCA) to promote creativity,
Nigeria in the 19th century, and art was first taught as preserve culture, and develop talents. Schools
part of handicraft, drawing, and manual work. It was began teaching various art forms, including
not considered a major subject but was used to train music, drama, painting, sculpture, and crafts.
students in simple skills like knitting, weaving, and 5. Modern Period – Today, art education in
technical drawing. Nigeria covers traditional and contemporary
art forms. Students are encouraged to express
creativity, understand Nigerian culture, and
prepare for careers in design, crafts, and
cultural industries.
WEEK 3: CRAFT
Meaning of Craft
Craft is the skill of making things by hand. It involves
creating useful and decorative objects through the use
of simple tools and materials. Crafts are usually done
with creativity, patience, and practice.
Types of Crafts
1. Textile Crafts – involve the use of fabrics,
threads, and yarns, e.g. weaving, embroidery,
tie-dye, knitting, and sewing.
2. Wood Crafts – making objects from wood,
e.g. carving, furniture making, and wood
sculpture.
3. Metal Crafts – using metals to produce items
like jewelry, gates, knives, and decorative
pieces.
4. Ceramic Crafts – making objects from clay
and baking them, e.g. pots, plates, and vases.
5. Paper Crafts – using paper to create things
like origami, collage, greeting cards, and
decorations.
6. Bead Crafts – making ornaments and jewelry
from beads, e.g. necklaces, bangles, and
crowns.
7. Leather Crafts – using animal skins and hides
to make shoes, bags, belts, and drums.
8. Glass Crafts – shaping and decorating glass to
produce cups, windows, beads, and art pieces.
9. Calabash Crafts – decorating and shaping
calabash into containers, musical instruments,
and ornaments.
10. Mixed-Media Crafts – combining two or
more materials (wood, fabric, beads, paper,
etc.) to create designs and artworks
