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Arts & Communication Art and culture in Nigeria architecture

main building, it provides a serene environment for artists and cinema experiences. In 1970, an office complex was
to work. The building’s walls are constructed with sandcrete constructed next to the cultural center, providing spaces
blocks, plastered with a mix of cement and sand (mortar), for the workforce in the center, especially after its sale to
and finished with emulsion paints. Certain elements, such the state government in 1989. The Department of Art,
as the various shading devices and the dominant structures Culture, and Tourism in Ondo State manages all activities
located at the entrance, were constructed using reinforced at the center, both administrative and otherwise.
concrete to embellish the built form. Other materials used The complex comprises an office building and the
in the building include wood, granite, terrazzo, and more. cultural center on neighboring plots. The cultural center
The floors are finished in granite and terrazzo, while certain houses auditoriums, exhibition spaces, various retail
portions of the walls, especially the halls, are finished with outlets, an art shop, storage spaces, and a few offices. The
tongue-and-groove polished wood. In the halls, due to the office block serves entirely for administrative purposes for
nature of activities, the ceilings are finished with materials staff members of the Ondo State Ministry of Art, Culture,
that have good acoustic properties. and Tourism.

This particular building does not heavily incorporate Spaces in the cultural center are arranged around the
local materials as major building elements. Except for main auditoriums. On approaching the building, as seen
certain interior areas where wood was used for flooring in Figure 10, the first point of entry leads into a hall now
and ceilings, all other materials used in this development used for exhibitions. The main auditorium extends further
were not locally sourced. into the building, ending at the far side of the complex,
Indigenous art and crafts are graciously celebrated in making it distant from the major road and ideal for serene
this building, with wall murals (Figure 9) and the sculptures activities. Other spaces include various exhibition halls.
at the entrance (Figure 7) being the most evident examples One particular hall, formerly a dance hall, now serves as
of local craftsmanship. The location of the art and craft a general hall. The complex has retail outlets, with the art
village also highlights the significance of art in the area and shop being the most active and frequently used. Artworks
reflects the living style of the community.
As a cultural center, the building reveals aspects of
the Indigenous lifestyle. The activities carried out in the
various spaces within the complex are culturally inspired.
In addition, the building incorporates the courtyard
system, adopted from Nigerian traditional architecture. It
effectively showcases various crafts and skills of the local
people, particularly the Ibadan community.

3.4. Adegbemile cultural center in Akure
Adegbemile cultural center initially operated as a private
venture, intended to provide an environment for relaxation
Figure 9. Wall murals at the Mokola cultural center. Source: https://www.
saeedahwits.com/2017/01/cultural-centre-mokola-ibadan

Figure 8. Façade of the Mokola cultural center. Source: https://
feigningdepth.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/the-oyo-state-cultural-centre- Figure 10. Approach of the Akure cultural center. Source: Authors’
ibadan fieldwork in 2019

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 8 doi: 10.36922/ac.0333