Cultural symbols in textile production and nation building in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined cultural symbols in textile production and nation building in Nigeria with the thesis that the preservation of a nation’s culture is synonymous with nation building. People's culture is a function of the environment in which they are situated physically and naturally. Nigeria is yet to annex her cultural imperatives for nation building, especially through the vehicle of textile production and the associated designs which are the objective and fulcrum around which this study revolves. Practice led studio approach was used in the production of both the mpi-enyi and mbor batiks. In the findings, the significance of mpi-enyi and mbor cultural symbols in the exploration of batik textile design was highlighted and their usage explained. Also, the role of cultural symbols in textile production and nation building through cultural preservation, annexation of development, moral education, preservation of instruments for orderly social mobility, and economic development was explained. The study, therefore, concluded that the preservation of a nation's culture is a sine qua non for nation building. It was therefore recommended that Nigeria should place much premium on her cultural imperatives through the cultural preservation of her artefacts for the requisite nation building.