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Arts & Communication

ARTICLE
Integrating art and culture into modern

architectural buildings in Nigeria: The cases of
Akure, Benin, and Ibadan

Reuben Peters Omale* and Ola-Ajayi Ifeoluwa

Department of Architecture, School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology
Akure, Akure-South, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Modernism in architecture has witnessed the erosion of traditions, art, culture, and
beliefs of Indigenous southwestern Nigerians in recent architectural developments.
This phenomenon has stripped most modern buildings, especially in southwestern
Nigeria, of their cultural values. This study delves into the historical context of
Nigerian art and architecture, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift toward a
more culturally inclusive approach. It investigates various strategies and presents
examples of successful integration, including the utilization of traditional materials,
incorporation of indigenous motifs, and collaboration with local artists and craftsmen.
This research examines three cultural center buildings where the architects have
endeavored to integrate the art and culture of the people of southwestern Nigeria
*Corresponding author: into contemporary architecture. The case study method of inquiry was adopted for
Reuben Peters Omale
(rpomale@futa.edu.ng) this research, combined with detailed observation and analysis of digital photographs
of these buildings. The study highlights the relevance of art and culture in recent
Citation: Omale RP, Ifeoluwa O. architectural developments in three southwestern Nigerian cities: Akure, Benin, and
Integrating art and culture into
modern architectural buildings in Ibadan. These cities were selected because of their historical backgrounds and rich
Nigeria: The cases of Akure, Benin, cultural affiliations that reflect the art and lifestyle of their localities. The cases studied
and Ibadan. Arts & Communication. were cultural center buildings because these building types are purposely built to
2024;2(4):0333.
doi: 10.36922/ac.0333 reflect the culture of the people. Findings from the study reveal that some modern
buildings still imbibe the art and culture of the people, while others incorporate
Received: March 15, 2023
these elements in more subtle ways, such as mural paintings and relief sculptures on
Accepted: May 6, 2024 walls. These features connote cultural expressions and representations of Nigeria’s
Published Online: August 26, 2024 heritage, which should not be forgotten but preserved for future generations.
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article Keywords: Akure; Architectural styles; Art and culture; Benin; Historical buildings; Ibadan;
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution- Modernity; Tradition
Noncommercial License, permitting
all non-commercial use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Nigeria has recently witnessed a tremendous evolution in its architectural landscape,
Publishing remains neutral with with significant efforts toward integrating art and culture into contemporary buildings.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional The fusion of art and culture in architecture reflects the dynamic nature of Nigerian
1
affiliations. traditional architecture, highlighting the country’s rich heritage. Idoko argues that

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/ac.0333