AFRO-CULTURAL IMPERATIVES IN THE BEAD PAINTINGS OF JIMOH BURAIMOH (original) (raw)
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Creativity and Beaded Aesthetics: Thematic Analysis of the Beadworks of David Herbert Dale
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences
In traditional Africa, beads function as adornments, as designation of royalty, and in many activities that have to do with commerce, religion, and healing among others. The use of beads has however found it ways into modern artistic expression. Literature abounds on the traditional use of beads, whereas there is a dearth of literature on creative usage of beads in contemporary Nigerian art. This study therefore examines creativity in the beadworks of David Herbert Dale. Data were collected through oral interviews with David Herbert Dale and relevant key informants such as art connoiseurs and gallery owners. This study relies on the theory of aesthetic response and functional theories of art; it also adopts the visual analysis approach to evince the aesthetics and deconstruct the contents of the beadworks. The paper argues that the beadworks of Dale are visual chronicles of historical, religious, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of Nigeria in particular, and Africa as a whole. ...
The Poetics of Traditional Ghanaian Beads The Poetics of Traditional Ghanaian Beads
The use of beads in Ghana is a site for a robust cultural meaning-making. Beads have been very popular in the past and are growing stronger in popularity with modernity to the extent that their modern meanings seem to be eclipsing the traditional ones. This paper takes us back to their traditional meanings by examining closely their relationship with the wearer. Using qualitative instruments of research methodology basically through interviews and participant observation, this paper, by examining the bead as a cultural text, identifies two main relationships between the bead and the wearer: the synecdochic and the metonymic relationships. Using mainly linguistic theories to interrogating these relationships, the paper, relying on the entextualization theory of Michael Silverstein and Greg Urban and the performance theory of Richard Bauman, discovers that in addition to being objects of aesthetics as the modern meanings mainly suggest, the bead has very important traditional meanings. The paper also demonstrates that where the bead is placed on the body is a function of traditional meanings. Again, when the bead is used is also contingent upon traditional meanings. Abstract-The use of beads in Ghana is a site for a robust cultural meaning-making. Beads have been very popular in the past and are growing stronger in popularity with modernity to the extent that their modern meanings seem to be eclipsing the traditional ones. This paper takes us back to their traditional meanings by examining closely their relationship with the wearer. Using qualitative instruments of research methodology basically through interviews and participant observation, this paper, by examining the bead as a cultural text, identifies two main relationships between the bead and the wearer: the synecdochic and the metonymic relationships. Using mainly linguistic theories to interrogating these relationships, the paper, relying on the entextualization theory of Michael Silverstein and Greg Urban and the performance theory of Richard Bauman, discovers that in addition to being objects of aesthetics as the modern meanings mainly suggest, the bead has very important traditional meanings. The paper also demonstrates that where the bead is placed on the body is a function of traditional meanings. Again, when the bead is used is also contingent upon traditional meanings. Furthermore, who wears which kind of bead is also circumscribed by the tradition and that even when the concept of aesthetics is being applied in the use of traditional beads, you are sure to know that it is only a secondary role. Finally, the bead sits on top of a huge mountain of traditional meanings unknown to the foreigner. This paper seeks to fill this knowledge gap on the part of the foreigner or the uninitiated to be able to appreciate fully the place of pride of the traditional bead in the Ghanaian cultural context.
The Poetics of Traditional Ghanaian Beads
Global Journal of Human-Social Science Research, 2015
The use of beads in Ghana is a site for a robust cultural meaning-making. Beads have been very popular in the past and are growing stronger in popularity with modernity to the extent that their modern meanings seem to be eclipsing the traditional ones. This paper takes us back to their traditional meanings by examining closely their relationship with the wearer. Using qualitative instruments of research methodology basically through interviews and participant observation, this paper, by examining the bead as a cultural text, identifies two main relationships between the bead and the wearer: the synecdochic and the metonymic relationships. Using mainly linguistic theories to interrogating these relationships, the paper, relying on the entextualization theory of Michael Silverstein and Greg Urban and the performance theory of Richard Bauman, discovers that in addition to being objects of aesthetics as the modern meanings mainly suggest, the bead has very important traditional meanings...
Of Beads and Beaded Artistry: A Paradigmatic Study of the Beadworks of David Herbert Dale
Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Beads have played important roles as personal adornment, in the paraphernalia of royalty of African kings, in commerce, religious activities, and traditional medicines among others. Previous studies on beads have focused mainly on its use in antiquity, while scholarships on how visual artists have engaged beads in creating works of art in contemporary times are scanty. This study therefore focuses on the beadworks of David Dale with a view to examining how the artist has ingeniously engaged beads as a means of creative expression. Data for the study were derived from field investigation through oral interviews with David Dale and art connoisseurs. Secondary data were sourced from relevant literature. Forms and stylistic inclinations were used to aid in-depth understanding of the content of the beadworks. Data collected were treated with the descriptive approach of art historical study. The findings of the study revealed that Dale’s beadworks are highly naturalistic, with perfect com...
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